UC-NRLF B 3 5HD flflfi Researcn PuDlications of the University of Minnesota Vol. VIII No. 3 June 1919 Studies m Language and Literature Number 6 THE ORIGINAL IDENTITY OF THE YORK AND TOWNELEY CYCLES BY MARIE C. LYLE, PLD. Published hy the University of J^innesota Minneapolis, J^innesota Copyright 1919 BY THE University of Minnesota £X CHANCHI PREFACE The theory of the formation of cycles of mystery plays held by earlier students of the subject, by even so great a scholar as Ten Brink, was that they were written by various individual authors at various places and were collected into groups much as Elizabethan or other plays are collected. Each play, it was believed, had its own author, place, and date of compo- sition, which modern investigation might possibly discover. The wide variety of style, period, and even of dialect, exhibited within a single cycle, to say nothing of the many indications of the work of a single author, was regarded as a sufficient basis for such a conception and historians of liter- ature have never rid themselves entirely of a theory of individual author- ship for mystery plays. The particular forms in which the mystery plays come down to us are not the work of single authors, but of redactors, revisers, and mere tinkerers, showing the results of many changes and modifications of the work of older and simpler originals. Plays on the same subject present the variety of treatment that different versions of the same popular ballad present, and the problem of determining the original form is not different in the one case from what it is in the other. In the thesis which follows, I endeavor to explain the problem presented by the tangled series of agreements and differences between two of the more important documents in early English literature. From various evidences in the forms preserved and from the scant}^ historical records of the gilds responsible for the acting of the plays, I attempt to discover the relationship between the two great cycles of Yorkshire plaj^s, and arrive at the conclusion that, at an earlier period, the York cycle and the Towneley cycle were, as cycles, one and the same. It is, thus, at variance with the current theory of the borrowing of individual plays from the one cycle and the incorporation of them into the other. If my thesis finds general acceptance, we shall hear less of plays "borrowed" in such odd and unaccountable groups from the York cycle by the Towneley cycle, and in the study of other cycles critics may apply the same theory of continuous revision of individual plays, due to craft control or to other reasons. In this connection, the recent article published in Modern Philology (January, 1918) by Mrs. Frank points the way. This article appeared after the presentation of my thesis to the Facult}^ of the Universit}^ of Minnesota (June, 1917), but in my revision of it for publication I have availed myself of certain evidence submitted by her. The thesis was undertaken and written under the direction of Professor Hardin Craig. It has since, in his absence, been revised for publication under the direction of Professor Carleton Brown. Both of them have iv PREFACE shown the most generous spirit of helpfulness, interesting themselves in the detail as well as the general outlines of the work; and I welcome this opportunity to make public and grateful acknowledgment of my indebted- ness to both of them, and especially to Professor Craig, without whose assistance and encouragement the work would never have been undertaken. Marie C. Lyle CONTENTS Pages Introduction 1-3 Chapter I. The influence of the Northern Passion: a relationship in the vernacular 4-29 Chapter II. The influence of the Gospel of Nicodemus 30-46 The Northern Septenar revision 30-45 The old theory of a York parent cycle untenable 45-46 Separation of the York and Towneley cycles 46 Chapter III. The interrelation of the York and Towneley metres 47-51 Chapter IV. The situation in the individual plays 52-101 First group of plays 53-54 The Departure of the Israelites from Egypt 53 Christ with the Doctors in the Temple 53 Christ Led Up to Calvary 53 The Harrowing of Hell 53 The Resurrection 53 The Judgment Day 53 Second group of plays 54-86 Joseph's Trouble about Mary 54 The Magi 56 The Flight into Egypt 60 Massacre of the Innocents 63 The Incredulity of Thomas 65 The Creation Group 68 Prophetic Prologue to the Annunciation 71 The Shepherds 73 John the Baptist 74 Lazarus 75 The Conspiracy, including the Conspiracy Proper, the Last Supper, the Agony and Betraj'al 77 The Crucifixion and Burial 83 The Appearance of Jesus to Mary Magdalene 84 The Peregrini 85 Third group of plays 87-93 Noah and the Flood 87 The Annunciation 89 The Visit to Elizabeth 90 The Examination before Caiaphas 90 The Ascension 92 Fourth group of plays 93-98 Cain and Abel 93 Abraham and Isaac 96 The Scourging or Condemnation 97 Fifth group of plays 98 Sixth group of plaj^s 98-100 Conclusion 100 Development of the Towneley cycle 100-101 Chapter V. The probable date of separation 102-8 Bibliography 109-113 THE ORIGINAL IDENTITY OF THE YORK AND TOWNELEY CYCLES INTRODUCTION The extent and the nature of the relationship between the York and Towneley cycles have been the subject of repeated investigation. Miss Lucy Toulmin Smith, the editor of the York cycle, ^ called attention to five Towneley plays which, except for slight additions, gaps, or modifica- tions, agree verbally with York plays. Further parallels between the texts of the two cj^cles were scon discovered. An identical stanza spoken by the Angel in York XVII. (strophe 27) and Towneley XIV (strophe 100) was observed by Joseph Hall.- Also, Dr. Herttrich^ noted that the greater part of the York play, Christ Led Up to Calvary (XXXIV), was present in Towneley (XXII), and that the Flight into Egypt (Y PI. XVIII and T PI. XV) contained certain similarities in phraseology. In endeavoring to account for the presence of identical plan's, or portions of plays, in the two cycles, each of these scholars proposed a different theory: (1) according to Miss Smith, Towneley borrowed the plays from York;'* (2) Hall pre- ferred to believe that York borrowed the plays from Towneley f (3) Hert- trich argued that the plays in question were derived from a common source.® The problem of the relationship between the two cycles was further complicated by Professor Hohlfeld's discovery of the presence of slighter similarities in eight other plays.'' Discarding as insufficient the evidence produced for the theory of a common source, and regarding the borrowing on the part of York as unlikely, he concluded that the Towneley author must have been familiar with the York plays, and that he borrowed certain plays outright, constructed others from a memory of York plays, and wrote still others independently of any York influence. Those plays i which he regarded as imitations are : the Annunciation, the Ofering of the » Lucy Toulmin Smith, The York ^lystery Plays (1885). The plays noted by Miss Smith were York XI, XX, XXXVII, XXXVIII, XLVIII and Towneley VIII, XVIII, XXV. XXVI, XXX (part). -Joseph Hall, Eng. Stud. (1886) 9:448. In the play of the Resurrection, one of the identical plays,, he notes that the similarity begins earlier than Miss Smith {op. cit. 397) had noticed. j 3 O. Herttrich, Stttdien zii den York Plays (1886) 3-6. * Miss Smith {op. cit. intro. xlvi), accepting the theory of the Sttrtees Society editor of the Towneley Mysteries (pref. x) that the Towneley cycle was a collection of plays drawn from different sources, sug- gested that the plays in question were borrowed from York by Towneley. 5 Mr. Hall {op. cit. 449), accepting Skeat's dictum {Joseph of .Arimathea, pref. x) that "the law of j progress in alliterative poetry is from lines cast in a loose mould to lines cast in a strict one," concludedjj that the York plays in their present shape are later than the corresponding Towneley texts. 6 Herttrich, op. cit. On the basis of a detailed comparison of the identical plays. Dr. Herttrich | concluded that the grammar of the insertions, omissions, and variations was such that neither cycle could have borrowed from the other, but that each was independently based upon a common original, of which I perhaps the York version, with its greater metrical regularity and fulness in detail, was nearer the original. \ ' Hohlfeld, Die altenglischen Kollektivmysterien Anglia 11:219 ff. 2 MARIE C. LYLE Magi, the Flight into Egypt, Herod the Great, the Conspiracy, the Buffeting, the Scourging, and the Crucifixion.^ In the Prologue to the Annunciation, Professor Davidson^ found a closer resemblance than that pointed out by- Professor Hohlfeld. For this play, as well as for the Magi and the Flight into Egypt, Professor Gayley^" considered the theory of imitation probable. Such plays as Abraham and Isaac, John the Baptist, and the Peregrini, he believed, were based upon "early alternatives of York plays, later discarded." The probability that later independent revisions of certain plays took place in each cycle after the period of contact has been suggested in different studies. Professor Davidson, having established by means of rhyme scheme tests a common authorship for the Northern Septenar strophes of the Towneley Conspiracio and the Northern Septenar plays of the York cycle, concluded that the Towneley play had been borrowed from York and that the later modification of the same strophe in the cor- responding York play was an indication of a later revision based upon the play now extant in the Towneley cycle. ^^ Mr. Pollard^^ hazarded a similar guess for the plays of the Peregrini and the Suspencio lude, two pla^^s which occur in another York metre, the "Burns" measure^^ of the Resurrection. According to this assumption, the York plays represent revisions of the Towneley plays just mentioned. The minor changes discernible in the so-called identical plays are generally regarded as later modifications made by Wakefield^^ playwrights,^^ although some of the changes may have taken place in the York cycle. Moreover, the additions by the so-called Wakefield author in the play of the Last Judgment are decisive evidence of later revisions in the Towneley cycle.^^ The most recent theory is that proposed by Professor Cady.^^ Observ- ing the general structural similarities which underlie the York and Towne- ley plays of the Nativity, Passion, and Resurrection groups, he endeavors to account for them by assuming that the two cycles developed from a common liturgical source. This theory, however, fails to supply an adequate 8 Towneley plays X. XIV, XV, XVI, XX. XXI. XXII, and XXIII. - • Charles Davidson, Studies in the English Mystery Plays 157. 4 10 Gayley, Plays of Our Forefathers 134, n. 1. I' Davidson, op. cil. 144, »2 A. W, Pollard, The Towneley Mysteries, EETSES 71: intro. xxvi. I'Saintsbury, History of English Prosody. 1:204 £f. >^.M. H. Peacock, The Wakefield Mysteries: the Place of Representation, Anglia 24:509 ff. " Smith, op. cil. intro. xlvi; Hohlfeld, op. cit. Anglia 11:219 ff.; Pollard, op. cil. intro. xvi S.. "A. W. Pollard, op. cil. intro. xxi and Gayley, op. cil. 177 present this view. Cady, on the other hand, (The Towneley Couplets and Quatrains, Journ. Eng.Ger. Phil. 10:572 ff. and The Passion Group in Towneley, Mod. Phil. 10:599) maintains that the work of the so-called Wakefield author preceded the York borrowings. Mrs. Grace Frank, Revisions in the English Mystery Plays, Mod. Phil. 15:181 ff., presents evidence for the older view. ■'"C^y, The Liturgical Basis of the Towneley Mysteries, PMLA. 24:419 fl.; o/). cit. Mod. Phil. 10:587 fiE. THE YORK AND TOWNELEY CYCLES 3 explanation for the existing relationship,^^ since it confines itself to those portions of the cycle to which the liturg}'- of the Church might be expected [ to afford parallels/^ and takes no account of other similarities which are \ certainly due to vernacular sources. Moreover, it fails entirely to account ; for the remarkable parallels presented b}^ the identical plays. These plays, ; as well as certain similarities in other plays, indicate a common source notf only in liturgical plays but also in the vernacular. Thus, the relation between the two cycles must be explained by a theory which takes into consideration, not only all the existing similarities, but also all the dissimilarities. In the case of the similarities, we have, as already noted, a practical identit}^ of certain plays, a verbal identity of isolated passages in certain other plays, and a structural resemblance, without the presence of verbal agreement, in still other plays. The earlier theories advanced, those by Miss Smith, Mr. Hall, and Dr. Herttrich, were based, in general, upon the presence of identical plays in the two cycles; the later theories, those by Hohlfeld, Davidson, Pollard, Gayley, and Cady, asstuned that the relationship which determined the presence of identical plays in the two cycles was different from that which determined the presence of less striking similarities in other plays. Although, in general, they admitted the possibility of independent revisions in the two cycles after the period of contact, they failed to consider the possibility that all existing similarities may be explained by one hypothesis, and that the dissimilarities were the restdt of later independent revisions. The presence of identical plays may, indeed, indicate the relationship originally existing in the two cycles. It, therefore, seems to me that the York and Towneley cycles were one and the same up to a certain period in the vernacular stage; that this identity of plays represents the parent-cycle stage; and that this parent cycle, established separately at York and Wakefield (?), underwent revisions at both places, the revisions in one cycle being inde- pendent, presumabl}^ of those in the other. That the similarities in the corresponding plays of the two cycles differ in degree and kind is due to the fact that certain plays underwent more extended revisions than others. Six distinct groups of plays may be distinguished: (1) plays which are practically identical, (2) plays showing a close similarity in structure and phraseology extending to the retention of common rhymes, (3) plays showing a close similarity in structure, but with not so extensive a similarity in phraseolog>% (4) plays showing a simi- larity in structure but with no similarity in phraseology, (5) plays show- ing little similarity in structtiral outline and no agreement in phraseology, (6) plays present in one cycle but not in the other. 19 Mrs. Frank, op. cit. p. 186, n. 2, points out that Professor Cady takes no account of differences in /; earlier York plays as described in Burton's 1415 list. 15 Chambers, The Medieval Stage 2:ch. xviii-xsii. CHAPTER I THE INFLUENCE OF THE NORTHERN PASSION: A RELATION- SHIP IN THE VERNACULAR The most decisive evidence pointing to a relationship between York and Towneley in the vernaciilar is supplied by the metrical narrative known as the Northern Passion.^ The immediate source of the two cycles is available only in the case of the Passion group: namely, the Northern Passion and the Gospel of Nicodemus,'^ and in this group of plays, the vernacular sources, not liturgical, adequately account for the existing similarities. The influence of the Northern Passion upon certain of the York and Towneley plays has been noted by Miss Foster,^ but the comparison may be extended further. The parallels already pointed out occur in six of the twelve plays making up the York Passion group proper.* Of the six remaining plays, the Conspiracy and Agony, as recorded in the accompany- ing chart, and the Trial before Herod'' show in a slighter degree the influ- ence of the Northern Passion. This leaves but three plays of the York Passion group unaffected b}^ it, and two of these, the First Trial before Pilate and the Condemnation, show the influence of the other vernacular source, the Gospel of Nicodemus} In Towneley, in addition to the Con- spiracio,'' a definite use of the Northern Passion, as shown in the accom- panying chart, appears in all of the Passion plays except that of the Talents. The influence of the Northern Passion upon York and Towneley is showm in the following chart. x^» ' Frances A. Foster, The Northern Passion EETS 145 and 147. 2 W. H. Hulme, Middle English Harrowing of Hell and Gospel of Nicodemus EETS (Ex. Ser.) 100; W. A. Craigie, The Gospel of Nicodemus and the York" Mystery Plays Furnivall Birthday Book 52 S. The part which the Gospel of Nicodemus played in the development of the York and Towneley cycles will be presented below, ch. II. ' Foster, op. cit. EETS 147:81 fl. * The plays extending from the Entry into Jerusalem up to and through the Death and Burial are included in the Passion group proper. 'In Play XXXI, the Trial be/ate Herod, verbal and structural similarities to the Northern Passion occur: cf. NP 11. 976a and Y 11. 134-35; NP 11. 962-62d, 967-70 and Y 11. 136-39; NP 1. 999 and Y 1. 324; NP 11. 1005-6b and Y 11. 394, 392. • See below, ch. II, pp. 31-32 for the influence of the Gospel of Nicodemus upon these two plays. The source of the Entry, the other one of the three plays not influenced by the Northern Passion, has not yet been discovered. ' In an earlier article {Mod. Lang. Notes 24:169), Miss Foster believed the influence of the Northern Passion apparent in Towneley plays XXII, XXIII, and XXVI, as well as XX, the Conspiracio, but in a later study (EETS 147:86 flf.), she says nothing concerning the influence upon the first three plays. Q "o 2 w < c 0! >H s W J >. 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(11. 33 o^ oF5 "= ^ « HO^ c3 ^ -«-> 'o" •>* "O 4J J2""^ lO (U •4-^ 3 ti •o > c . o c ^ 1-) o •^ B • > 2 -^ ' , 1 ^x: ^ •3 o 3 Ml) aj C/2 .X .ss C3 O 11/ W) 3 * 3 C 3 3 _ __^ ,_^ ^,^ 3 ^^-< C' »* qT U5 ITi (U •o OS (T) 2 o •— > ■* ^ m (^ 00 OC 00 o ^-H T— 4 ^-^ hH <<-l tn «-h" ^ .-J vx M -O !Z^ < z p^ a o d B •c < -a y si §■3 0.0 fl3 +J ^-^ ^^ H ^5 O V "S -^^ O "o - rt §53 Z ,c ^ S"gjO M t3i0_-u a-o J5^"rt t>. >> is CJ o •— > C c! >> o X3 -Si or: # "^1 28 THE YORK AND TOWNELEY CYCLES 29 In the preceding comparative analysis, three different groups of simi- larities may be distinguished between the Passion plan's of the York and Towneley cycles: (1) those which are based primarily upon the Northern Passion; (2) those, which merely suggested by the Northern Passion narrative, are developed further in both c^'cles b}'' the use of similar details; (3) those which are not found in the Northern Passion. Groups (1) and (2) include the incidents which were certainly fundamental in the making up of the Passion plays. They form the basis for the chief incidents con- nected with the Conspiracy, the Last Supper, the Agony and Betrayal, the Examination before Caiaphas, the Bearing of the Cross, the Crucifixion, Death, and Burial. The similarities in these two groups, then, are due to the use of a vernacular source, and can not be regarded as evidence pointing to a common liturgical source.^'' Nor does it seem probable that the simi- larities belonging to the third group are of liturgical origin. They seem rather to be embellishments used by the plaj^wright for dramatic purposes ; in many cases, they are merel}'' the additions 'which a dramatic presenta- tion of the subject-matter demanded. It is possible that the York and Towneley Passion groups may have had a common litiirgical source, as suggested by Professor Cq.6.y,'^^ but all traces of it, supposing one to have existed, have been completely obliterated by material derived from the Northern Passion. The simi- larities existing between the corresponding York and Towneley plaj-s of the Passion group can not, then, be explained bj^ the theory of a common liturgical source, but must be ascribed, in large part, to the use of a ver- nacular source, that of the Northern Passion. Were the similarities between the Passion plays of York and Towneley confined to the first and second groups, it would seem that these plays might have been derived independently from a common source, the Northern Passion. But the similarities included in the third group, those which have no basis in the Northern Passion, preclude this possibility. Such similari- ties indicate a contact between the two cjxles, which obviously occurred after the influence of the Northern Passion. The most striking evidence for this view is seen in the events connected with the bearing of the cross to Calva^3^ The wording of the scene is practically identical in both cycles, although the text of the Northern Passion, while forming the basis for the play, does not provide for the close verbal agreement. The existence of such similarities seem.s rather to point to a parent cjxle, from which the extant versions of the York and Towneley plays were derived. ^^ " Cady, The Towneley Nativity and Resurrection Groups PMLA. 24:419 ff.; The Passion Group in Towneley Mod. Phil. 10:587 ff. " Cady, ibid. Mod. Phil. 10:587 ff. 12 Whether or not the parent cycle included all of the Northern Passion incidents now present in the extant versions of both cycles, it is impossible to determine. It seems probable that the York cycle, because its use of the Northern Passion is more extensive than is that of the Towneley cycle, made a second and more extended use of it, perhaps when some of the plays were revised in the Northern Septenar metre. See below, ch. II, p. 30 ff. CHAPTER II THE INFLUENCE OF THE GOSPEL OF NICODEMUS The Northern Septenar Revision The fundamental source of the Passion plays in the York cycle, as has been shown in the preceding chapter, was the Northern Passion. But one may recognize also in several of these plays the direct influence of another vernacular text, the Gospel oj Nicodemus. This influence manifests itself not only in the appropriation of material but also in the adoption in sev- eral plays of its characteristic stanza, the "Northern Septenar." The de- pendence of the York plays upon the text of the Gospel of Nicodemus was first noted by Mr. Craigie;^ their indebtedness in the matter of metrical form was suggested by Professor Hulme in his edition of this Middle English poem. 2 Unlike the Northern Passion, the Gospel of Nicodemus, as I shall endeavor to show, did not supply the fundamental source for the York plays dealing with the Passion but was used merely for elaboration and expansion. Although it forms the basis of the Harrowing of Hell and two of the trial scenes before Pilate,^ it could not have been fundamental in the formation of the Passion group, because it deals only with the incidents connected with the Trial and Condemnation of Jesus before Pilate, of his Crucifixion, Death, and Burial, of his Harrowing of Hell, and of his Resurrection. The York Passion group, on the other hand, begins with the Entry into Jerusalem and includes the events connected with the Bargaining and Selling of Jesus, the Last Supper, the Agony and Betrayal, the Examination before Caiaphas, Peter's Denial, the Trial before Herod, the two Trials before Pilate, the Scourging and Mocking of Jesus, the Bearing of the Cross, the Crucifixion, Death, and Burial. All of these events, however, as well as the Harrowing of Hell and the Resurection are treated by the Northern Passion,* the influence of which is seen in all the plays beginning with the Conspiracy and up to and including the Resurrection, with the exception of the Harrowing of Hell and two of the Trial scenes before Pilate. Moreover, the events which are connected with but one of the trials in the Gospel of Nicodemus, that of the Condemnation of Jesus, are dispersed in York and incorporated into three of the trials, > Craigie, The Gospel of Nicodemus and the York Mystery Plays Furnivall Miscellany 52-61. 'Hulme, The Middle English Harrowing of Hell and the Gospel of Nicodemus EETSES 100:intro. xviii. • Craigie, loc, oil.; see also below, p. 31, n. 5. • Frances A. Foster, The Northern Passion BETS 145 and 147, and above, ch. I. THE YORK AND TOWNELEY CYCLES 31 the Examination before Caiaphas, the First Trial before Pilate, and the Condemnation by Pilate.° Such a situation seems to indicate that additional material from the Gospel of Nicodemus was incorporated into the York cycle in order to elaborate the simpler trial scenes originally based upon the Northern Passion. This theory is borne out by a comparison with the description given the plays in the 1415 Burton list.® Of the five plays which contain additions from the Gospel of Nicodemus, four differ from the description given them by Burton. The plays as described by him correspond to material derived from the Northern Passion, but they contain no mention of any material derived from the Gospel of Nicodemus J The extant version of Play XXX, the First Trial before Pilate, contains the fol- lowing incidents: (1) the comic love scene between Pilate and his wife, (2) the beadle's objection to their behavior, (3) Pilate's preparations for sleep, (4) the appearance of the devil to Percula and the sending of the messenger to Pilate with the news of the dream, (5) the bringing of Jesus to Pilate, (6) the beadle's worship- ping of Jesus as he enters the hall, (7) the beadle's account of the honor accorded Jesus on his entry into Jerusalem, (8) the accusations brought against Jesus, and (9) Pilate's sending Jesus to Herod when he learns that he is from Galilee. In the descrip- tion given the play by the Burton list,^ only the eighth incident, as mentioned above, with the possible inclusion also of the fifth and the ninth, are provided for. It is significant that the Northern Passion deals only with these three incidents and since the influence of the Gospel of Nicodemus is to be found in the fourth, sixth, and seventh incidents and in a number of the accusations in the eighth incident, it * Verbal agreements are found in the following passages: (1) Between Y PI. XXIX and G of N: Y II. 33-39 and G of N 11. 39-44, Y 11. 40-45 and G of N Add. 11. 29-38, Y II. 50-54 and G of N II. 22-28, Y 1. 57 and G of N 11. 47-48; (2) between Y PL XXX and G of N: (C) Y I. 177 and G of N II. 197-98, Y I. 292 and G of N 11. 215-16, (C) Y II. 316-20 and G of N II. 73-76, Y II. 336-45 and G of N II. 85-96, (C) Y II. 346-50 and G of N U. 105-8, Y 11. 373-76 and G of N II. 113-16, Y I. 502 and G of N 1. 25; (3) between Y PI. XXXIII and G of N: Y I. 91 and G of N 1. 21, (C) Y 11. 113-19 and G of N II. 13-20, (C) Y II. 88. 134 and G of N 11. 58-60, (C) Y II. 169-70 and G of N 11. 133-36, (C) Y 11. 183-84 and G of N II. 139-44, (C) Y 11. 243-52 and G of N II. 161-64, (C) Y II. 301-6 and G of N II. 221-24. (C) Y 11. 315-19 and G of N 11. 309-12, (C) Y II. 320-24 and G of N II. 313-14, Y II. 325-26 and G of N II. 315-17, 322-23. (C) refers to passages called attention to by Mr. Craigie, op. cit. Furniiall Miscellany 52-61. « The 1415 Biirton list is printed by: Drake, Eboracum app. xxx Sharp, Coventry Mysteries 135 Marriott, Collection of English Miracle Plays xviii Smith, York Mystery Plays intro. xix f. Pollard, English Miracle Plays, Moralities, and Interludes. (For the sake of convenience, I shall refer only to Miss Smith's copy of the 1415 Burton list, hereafter.) This would seem to indicate that the separation of the two cycles had taken place some time between 1415 and the entry into the Towneley manuscript, about the middle of the century. (See Pollard, op. cit. EETSES 71:intro. x.xvii.) The discrepancy, in the two cycles, of the division into separate plays, however, makes it seem probable that the separation took place before 1415. (See below, ch. V, p. 107.) There is reason to believe that Burton's list represents the true situation as it existed in 1415, only in regard to the separation of plays and their assignment to crafts, but that in many cases, the description given the characters and chief events refers to a situation existing at an earlier period. ' Miss Smith, ibid, intro. xxiv, in speaking of Play XXX, thought it "curious that no mention is made by Burton of dame Percula, Pilate's wife, nor of any of the personages in the first scenes, which must have been," she says, "prominent and popular." 8 Burton list. Smith, ibid, intro. xix f. The description of the play, as found here, (p. xxiii) is: Jesus, Pilatus, Anna, Cayphas, duo consiliarii et iiij" ludei accusanles Jesum. 32 MARIE C. LYLE seems possible to conclude that Burton's list describes an older play based only upon material from the Northern Passion, and that the extant version of the York play represents a later play, showing a combination of events gained from both sources." Play XXXIII, entitled the Second Trial and Judgment before Pilate, the greater part of which is undoubtedly based upon the Gospel of Nicodemus, also differs from the description given it in Burton's list. The play, as we now have it, is made up of the following incidents: (1) Pilate's boasting of his power, (2) Jesus sent back by Herod with his message, (3) the accusations brought against Jesus, (4) the bowing of the standards when Jesus enters the hall and the anger of the Jews because of it, (5) the holding of the standards by the four strongest men in the realm, and in spite of their strength, the bowing again of the standards, (6) the deliverance of Barabbas and the Jew-s' demand for Jesus' condemnation, (7) the scourging, crowning, and mocking of Jesus, (8) the handwashing scene, (9) the condemnation. Burton'" de- scribes the play in these words: Jesus, Pilatus, Cayphas, Annas, sex milites tenenies hastas cum vexillis, et alij quattuor ducentes Jesum ab Herode petentes Baraban dimitti et Jesum crucifigi, et ibidem ligantes et flagellantes eum, ponentes coronam spineam super caput eius; tres milites mittentes sortem super vestem Jesu. The absence of the incident of the throwing of dice for the clothing of Jesus in the extant play is evidence in itself that Burton described a different play. It is impossible to decide whether Burton's reference to the six soldiers carrying spears and ensigns provides for the incident of the bowing of the standards or not, but because of the detail with which the incidents of this play are described by Burton, it probably does not. It is likely that the later introduction of this incident crowded out the incident of the throwing of dice, since, in the register, the latter incident has been divided and contracted to a few lines at the end of Plays XXXIV and XXXV. • Moreover, the description as oflFered by Burton seems to refer to a play much simpler in detail and one which fol- lows the Northern Passion narrative more closely than the extant play which shows an extensive influence from the Gospel of Nicodemus. The description which Burton gives of Play XXXVII, the Harrowing of Hell, does not correspond to the present play. He describes the play thus: Jesus spolians infernum, xij spiritus, [vj] boni et vj mali.^^ Obviously, this description refers to another play, since there is no mention of spirits in the extant version. It seems diffi- cult to believe that the patriarchs of the extant play, reciting their prophecies as they await the coming of Jesus, or the devils as they oppose his entrance, could be referred to as "spirits"; and for that matter, the number of patriarchs and devils does not correspond to the number required in the list. It seems probable, then, that the description given by Burton refers to an earlier play, differing to a marked degree from the extant play, the incidents and phraseology of which are largely drawn from the Gospel of Nicodemus. The Resurrection, Play XXXVIII, as described by Burton, also seems to refer to a simpler play than that of the extant version. Jesus resurgens de sepulcro, quatuor milites armaii, et tres Marie lameniantes. Pilatus, Cayphas, with the later addition of et Anna. Juvenis sedens ad sepulcrum indutus albo, loquens mulieribus^- is, in all prob- ability, a description of the present play only in so far as it is based upon the Northern Passion. No mention is made by Burton of the Centurion's reproaches against the Jews, nor of his recital of the overcasting of the weather at the time of Jesus' death, • Incidents one, two, and three, having no basis in biblical or apocryphal narratives, are to be regarded possibly as an original invention on the part of the playwright. >' See Burton list. Smith, ibid, intro. xxv. " Smith, ibid, intro. xxvi. " Loc. cil. THE YORK AND TOWNELEY CYCLES 33 given so much prominence at the beginning of the extant play. This material is derived from the Gospel of Nicodemus and if it had been included in the earlier play, it seems likely that Burton would, at least, have included the name of the Centurion in the list of characters. Apparently, its omission is to be explained only upon the ground that the material from the Gospel of Nicodemus was not included in the cycle at the time of its formation. Since the addition from the Gospel of Nicodemus in Play XXIX, the Examina- tion before Caiphas and Peter's Denial, did not necessitate either the introduction of an extra character or of a new incident, it is impossible to determine whether the play, as described by Burton, refers to the extant version or to an earlier play. Bur- ton's description is too meagre in detail to help much: Jesus, Anna, Cayphas. et iiij°'' Judei percucientes et colaphizantes Jesum; Petrus, mulier accusans Petrum, et Mal- chus.^^ The play, as a whole, is based upon the Northern Passion, with the introduc- tion of material from the Gospel of Nicodemus in the matter of additional accusa- tions," thus showing a similar situation to that existing in the other plays. As already noted, Professor Hulme suggested the influence of the Gospel of Nicodemus stanza upon the Northern Septenar metre in the York cycle He pointed out similarities in metrical structure, in the rhyme order, ababababcdcd, and in the three beat measure of the four lines of the cauda}'^ Such similarities, however, do not positively establish the probability of direct influence, but they may be regarded as contributory evidence in connection with numerous cases of common rhyme series. ^^ I, therefore, submit the following common rhyme series: (1) The analysis of the identical rhyme series appearing between Play XXXVII, the Harrowing of Hell, and the Gospel of Nicodemus:^'' (a) The identical rhymes are : Y 15, (as)sefite, tente, mente, wenie; G of N 84, sent, ment, went, {en)tent. Y 22, {e)mang, wrang; G of N 43, {o)mang, wrang. Y 2, haue, graiie; G of N 69, 88, haue, graue. Y 2, sone, done; G of N 37, is 55, 129, sone, done. Y 24, telle, helle; G of N 128, tell, hell. Y 7, saide, laide; G of N 40, 63, 93, 124, sayd, layd. Y 23, mee, be; G of N 28, me, be. Y 5, vndirstande, lande, walkand, leuand; G of N 100, land, vnder- stand, walkand, lyfand. Y 22. myght, right; G of N 115, 116, 142, ryght, myght. Y 8, 30, myght, hight, sight, light; G of N 118, myght, lyght, syght, hyght. (b) The included rhymes are : Y 1, trayne, agayne; G of N 16, ogayne, slayne, trayne, mayne. Y 9, paste, faste; G of N 65,1' kast,/a5/, past, last. Y 16, name, same; G of N 10,-" blame, same, schame, name. Y 9, haue, saue; G of N 64,^1 saue, graue, haue, straue. Y 31, trewe, knewe; 1' Smith, ibid, intro. xxiii. i« Compare especially G of N 39-44 and Y 33-40; G of N Add. 29-35 and Y 40-45; G of N 25-29 and Y 51-56. 15 Hulme, op. cit. EETSES 100:intro. xviii, finds that a slight difference exists in the measure of the first eight lines, the Nicodemus having four-stressed lines alternating with three-stressed ones, whereas each of the York lines contains four stresses. Such a difference, however, he considers of minor importance. '8 Davidson, op. cit. 137 ff. establishes the probability of a common authorship for all of the York plays in the Northern Septenar. 1' The references in the case of both texts are to the strophe numbers. ■8 {•vn)done. " Of. also G of N 112, fast, kast, past, last. 21 Cf. also G of N 54, name, schame, blame, same. 2' Cf. also G of N 147 Add., saue, haue, graue, staue. 34 MARIE C. LYLE G of N 7," tre'v, Ihesu, new, knew. Y 28, weste, fesle; G of N 53, best, threst, west. Jest. Y 25, wende, ende; G of N 45 Add., frende, wende, fende, ende. Y 13," 28, werre, ferre; G of N 142, were, here, fere, nere. Y 27, leere, heere; G of N 39, lere, manere, here, here. Y 11, my ght, fight; G of N \Z\, fyght, dyght, myght, rj^ght. Y 22, myght, right; G of N 5," ryght, myght, syght, dyght. Y 2, haue, graue; G of N 60," graue, have, straue, craue. Y 7, saide, laide; G of N 68,"^ aflfrayd, payd, layd, sayd. Y 21, hidde, kidde; G of N 6," byd, kyd, hyd, dyd. Y 33, till, fulfille; G of N 123, ill, iyll, skyll, fullfyll. Y 3, ill, will; G of N 19,=8 stjdl, vntvll, will, ill. Y 18, ia)bide, tyde; G of N 52," syde, hj^de, tyde, byde. Y 31, vs, pus; G of N 31,3" pus, Ihesus, vs, bus. Y 17, 7}iore, sore; G of N 139 Add., sore, {euer)more, t)ore, lore. (c) The proportions are: The number of rhyme series in Play XXXVII is 140. The number of rhyme series in G of N is 585. The number of agreeing rhyme series is 31/140 of all in Play XXXVII or 22 per cent. The number of rhyming words agreeing is 68 in 408 lines of Play XXXVII or 1 in 6 lines. (2) The analysis of the identical rhyme series appearing between Play II, the Creation to the Fifth Day, and the Gospel of Nicodemus: (a) The identical rhj^mes are : Y 7, so7ie, done; G of N 37,si 55, 129, sone, done. Y 14, sail, all; G of N 44, 134, all, sail. (b) The included rhymes are : Y 5, he, se; G of N 19,^2 ^le, se, fre, be. Y 2, forsake, blake, take, wake, sclake, make; G of N 44, slake, sake, make, take; G of N 84, viake, forsake, wake, take. Y 4, pay, day; G of N 47, pray, day, pay, say. Y 14, sail, all; G of N lOO,^^ (^.jth) all, thrall, sail, bifall. Y 7, sone, done; G of N 36, 2* mon, so?i, trone, done. Y 13, (iov)thoght, brught, (vn) soght, noght, oght, wrothe; G of N 10, ^^ thoght, noght, broght, wroght; G of N 23, broght, soght, noght, wroght. Y 1, wroght, soght; G of N 23,^^ broght, soght, noght, wroght. Y 7, might, bright, syght, wyght, right, dyght; G of N 5^' ryght, myght, syght, dyght; G of N 98, myght, ryght, wight, syght. Y 6, byde, wede, {on)brede, fede, sede, lede; G of N 9, led, wed, fed, bred. Y 8, assent, went, hent, firmament, sent, entent; G of N 129, went, assent, hent, entent. Y 4, inene, betwj-ne, sene, clene, wyne, bydene; G of N 92, mene, sene, bidene, wene. '- Cf. also G of N 9, {vn)treu'e, knew, hebrew, Inoghe. S3 ware instead of werre. " Cf. also G of N 92, ryght, hyght, syght, myght; 98, myght, ryght, wight, syght; 128, myght, wight, ryght, hyght; 149 Add., knyght, myght, nyght, right. " Cf. also G of N 64, saue, graue, haue, straue; 147 Add., saue, haue, graue, staue. *• Cf. also G of N 77, sayd, layd, affrayd, payd; 145 Add., sayde, brayde, mayde, layde. " Cf. also G of N 120, hyd, kyd, dyd, bityd. 29 Cf. also G of N 26, vntyll, ill, will, skyll; 31, wyll, ill, skyll, ^aretyll 83, tyll. will, skyll, ill. 2' Cf. also G of N 145 Add., tyde, pride, bide, wyde. '» Cf. also G of N 78, pus, vs, Nichodemus, Ihesus. " {\n)done. •' Cf. also G of N 50, plente, he, he, se; 64, me, tre, se. be; 68, meneyhe, se, be, Galile; 80, me, be, se, pete; 135, we, preuete, se, be; 140, bounte, se, parde, be. *> Cf. also G of N 114. all, bifall, sail, small; 132, all, sail, call, sail. " Cf. also G of N 138, (als)sone, trone, done, sone. " Cf. also G of N 48, soght, broght, wroght, thoght; 62, thoght, noght, broght, soght; 66, thoght, wroght, broght, noght; 81, soght, noght, broght, wroght; 124, soght, wroght, broght, thoght; 140, broght, soght, noght, thoght. »« Cf. also G of N 48, soght, broght, wroght, thoght; 81, soght, noght, broght, wroght; 124, soght, wroght, broght, thoght. •' Cf. also G of N 57. ryght, dyght, syght, myght. THE YORK AND TOWNELEY CYCLES 35 (c) The proportions are: The number of rhyme series in Play II is 41. The number of rhyme series in G of N is 585. The number of agreeing rhyme series is 13/41 of all in Play II or 31 per cent. The number of rhyming words agreeing is 41 in 86 lines of Play II or 1 in 2 Unes. (3) The analysis of the identical rhyme series appearing between Play X, Abrahatn's Sacrifice of Isaac, and the Gospel of Nicodemus: (a) The identical rhymes are : Y 20, saye, ay; G of N 68, say, ay. Y 14, praye, daye; G of N 97, pray, day. Y I6,fayne, layne, slayne, agayne; G of N 20, slayne, fayve, layn, ogayn. Y 23, sone, hone; G of N 60, bone, sone. Y 6, sone, done; G of N 37,s8 55, 129, sone, done. Y 22, wroglit, ihoght; G of N 146 Add., {he)thought, wrought. Y 19, thoght, noght, soght, wroght; G of N 66, thoght, wroght, soght, noght. Y 1, lyffe, ivyffe; G of N 16, 18 Add.," wyfe, lyf. Y 23, till, will; G of N 12, 14," tyll, will. Y 9, wille, fulfille, skille, (Iper)tille; G of N 93, will, tyll, skyll, fullfyll. Y 26, dede, stede; G of N 27, 62, 112, 136, stede, dede. Y 2, tree, see, be, me; G of N 64, me, tre, se, be. Y 16, be, me; G of N 28, yne, be. (b) The included rhymes are : Y 8,Vg, me; G of N 89, he, se, we, me. Y 16, he, me; G of N 19," me, se, fre, he. Y 9, Asse, has; G of N 70, was, pas, ass, has. Y 14, praye, daye; G of N 47,*^ p^ay, day, pay, say. Y 20, saye, ay; G of N 55," pray, ay, say, day. Y 27, fayne, agayne; G of N 20," slayne, fayne, layn, ogayn. Y 31, agayne, mayne; G of N 16, ogayne, slayne, trayne, mayne. Y 4, panne, beganne; G of N 27,*^ man, pan, bigan, kan. Y 25, stille, tyll; G of N 19,^« styll, {vn)tvll, will, ill. Y 5, ille, will; G of N 19,^^ styll, vntyll, will, ill. Y 23, till, will; G of N 19," styll, ivn)tvll, will, ill. Y 26, dede, stede; G of N 25," rede, dede, hatred, stede. Y 17, fell, telle; G of N 2,^0 Gamaliel, fell, spell, tell. Y 20, dere, nere; G of N 63," fere, nere, dere, here. Y 11, vnto, doo; G of N 35, lo, do, vnto, bro. Y 6, sone, done; G of N 36,^2 mon, 5on, trone, done. Y 22, wroght, thoght; G of N 10,53 thoght, noght, broght, wroght. Y 16, desire, fyre; G of N 121, syre, fyre. Ire, desyre. Y 3, dight, sight; G of N 5," ryght, mvght, syght, dyght. Y 21, mercy, dy; G of N 57, dy, sykerly, by, 7nercy. Y 1, lyffe, wyffe; G of N 99, wife, ryfe, dryue, lyfe. Y 2, ryve, stryve; G of N 131, olyue, stryue, dryue, ryue. Y 5, stryve, life; G of N 122, lyue, stryue, bilyue, drj^ue. " (vnjdone, " (,he)lyue. « (.vn)tyll. « Cf. also G of N 30, centre, be, me, degre; 80, me, be, se, pete. « Cf. also G of N 102, say, pray, ay, day. « Cf. also G of N 102. say, pray, ay, day; 110, may, oway, say, ay; HI, say, verray, oway, ay; 114, ay, say, day, ay. ** Cf. also G of N 95, fayne, ogayne, frayne, sayne. « Cf. also G of N 37, pan, man, can, bygan; 59, pan, bigan, ryghtwisman, wan. " Cf. also G of N 49, styll, tyll, skyll, spyll. « Cf. also G of N 26, vntyll, ill, will, skyll; 31, uyll, ill, skyll, ]?aretyll; 83. tyll, will, skyll, ill. « Cf. also G of N 26, (un)/y«, ill, will, skyll; 31 wyll, ill, skyll, Oare)/}'//; 88, tyll, will, skyll, ill; 93, will, tyll, skyll, fullfyll. " Cf. also G of N 93, rede, dede, stede, godhede; 133, rede, stede, ded, godhede; 143, kj-nrede, ded, stede, godhede. B9 Cf. also G of N 98, tell, (hi)fell, hell, (bi)fell; 117, tell, hell, fell, snell. 61 Cf. also G of N 124, clere, dere, here, nere. " Cf. also G of N 138, (als)sone, trone, done, sone. M Cf. also G of N 48, soght, broght, wroght, thoght; 66, thoght, wroght, broght, noght; 124, soght, wroght, broght, thoght. " Cf. also G of N 57, ryght, dyght, syght, myght; 60, syght, ryght, knyght. dyght. 36 MARIE C. LYLE (c) The proportions are : The number of rhyme series in Play X is 121. The number of rhyme series in G of I^ is 585. The number of agreeing rhyme series is 36/121 of all in Play X or 30 per cent. The number of rhyming words agreeing is 80 in 380 lines of Play X or 1 in 5 — lines. (4) The analysis of the identical rhyme series appearing between Play XI, the Pharaoh, and the Gospel of Nicodemus: (a) The identical rhymes are: Y 14, wille, vntill; G of N 14, vntyll, will. Y 18, tent, sente, wenie, mente; G of N 84, sent, nient, went, {en)teni. Y 32, drede, lede; G of N 111, drede, lede. Y 29, be, tree, me, see; G of N 64, me, tre, se, be. Y 15, 31, 33, me, be; G of N 28, me, be. Y 24, sene, mene; G of N 76, mene, sene. Y 15, name, blame, same, shame; G of N 54, name, schame, blame, same. Y 29, last, past; G of N 106, last, past. Y 3,faste, laste; G of N 94, last, fast. Y 7, awe, drawe, lawe, sawe; G of N 141, aw, law, draw, saw. Y 1, passe, hasse, was, asse; G of N 70, was, pas, ass, has. (b) The included rhymes are : Y 8, syde, bide; G of N 52, syde, hyde, tyde, byde. Y 14, wille, vntill; G of N 19" styll, vtityll, will, ill. Y 12, will, per-till; G of N 31, wyll, ill, skyll, paretyll. Y 11, 31, noght, brought; G of N 10,^^ thoght, noght, broght, wroght. Y 12, newe, trewe; G of N 7,*' trew, Ihesu, new, knew. Y 31, wende, lende, fende, kende, shende, sende, frende, fende; G of N 43, seiid, lend; G of N 138, fend, wend. Y 34, bede, drede, nede, dede; G of N 42, 140, dred, nede. Y 6, sprede, rede, dede, drede; G of N 57, dede, dred. Y 15, 31, 33, me, be; G of N 19,^' me, se, fre, be. Y 34, see, wee; G of N 135, we, preuete, se, be. Y 24, sene, mene; G of N 11,^^ bene, mene, sene, bidene. Y 16, dere, here; G of N 29,*" here, were, dere, powere. Y 30, saide, paied; G of N 68," affrayd, payd, layd, sayd. Y 18, sake, take; G of N 44,*- slake, sake, make, take. (c) The proportions are: The num.ber of rhyme series in Play XI is 133. The number of rhyme series in G of N is 585. The number of agreeing rhyme series is 30/133 of all in Play XI or 22 per cent. The number of rhyme words agreeing is 72 in 406 lines of Play XI or 1 in 5 + lines. (5) The analysis of the identical rhyme series appearing between Play XII, the Prophetic Prologue, and the Gospel oj Nicodemus: (a) The identical rhymes are: Y 7, vs, Jesus; G of N 70, 118, vs, Ihesus. Y 3, thynge, sprynge; G of N 146, spryng, thing. Y 8, Jewe, knewe, newe, hewe; G of N 4, lew, new, knew, hew. Y 12, manere, here; G of N 106, manere, here. Y 10, was, Judas, passe, has; G of N 24," (Cayphas), was, pas, has. Y 11, mast, gast; G of N 56, mast, gaste. " Cf. also G of N 26, Tntyll, ill, will, skyll. '• Cf. also G of N 23, broght, soght, noght, wroght; 62, thoght, noght, broght, soght; 66, thoght, wroght, broght, noght; 81, soght, noght, broght, wroght; 140, broght, soght, noght, thoght. " Cf. also G of N 18, lew, new, trew, rew. " Cf. also G of N 30, contre, be, me, degre; 80 me, be, se, pete. '• Cf. also G of N 18, sarizene, bydene, sene, mene; 92, mene, sene, bidene, wene. '• Cf. also G of N 63, fere, nere, dere, here; 113, clere, here, Lucifere, dere; 124, clere, dere, here, nere. •> Cf. also G of N 77, sayd, layd, affrayd, payd. •' Cf. also G of N 86, spake, sake, make, take. " Cf. also G of N 77, (Cayphas), has, was, (o\ieT)pas; 94, (Cayphas), has, pass, was. THE YORK AND TOWNELEY CYCLES 37 (b) The included rhymes are: Y 7, vs, Jesus; G of N 31," t)us, Ihesus, vs, bus. Y 7, morne, borne; G of N 30/* born, biforn, morn, lorn. Y 2, mankyn, syn; G of N 16, mankyn, syn, twyne, blyn. Y 1, lyght, hyght; G of N 118, myght, lyght, syght, hyght. Y 12, manere, here; G of N 39,^° lere, manere, here, here. Y 1, space, grace; G of N 134, grace, space, trace, lace. Y 6, 9, panne, manne; G of N 27," man, pan, bigan, kan. Y 11, mast, gast; G of N 147, gast, mast, wast, hast. (c) The proportions are: The number of rhyme series in Play XII is 47. The number of rhyme series in G of N is 585. The number of agreeing rhyme series is 15/47 of all in Play XII or 31 + per cent. The number of rhyme words agreeing is ZZ in 144 lines of Play XII or 1 in 5 — lines. (6) The analysis of the identical rhyme series in Play XV, the Shepherds, and the Gospel oj Nicodemus: (a) The identical rhymes are : Y 12, be, me; G of N 28, me, be. Y 11, layde, saide; G of N 40, 63, 93, 124, layd, sayd. Y 12, all,falle; G of N 49, 71, 124, 125, all, fall. Y 14, swayne, agayne; G of N 110, swaytie, agayne. (b) The included rhymes are : Y 2, say, day, lay, maye, saye, maye; G of N 138, say, day, lay, may. Y 11, glade, stadde, hadde; G of N 133, had, glad, bad, stad. Y 2, borne, by-forne; G of N 20,^8 born, lorn, sworn, byforn. Y 1, lorne, borne; G of N 20, ^^ born, lorn, sworn, byforn. Y 12, be, me; G of N 19,'° me, se, fre, be. Y 11, layde, saide; G of N 68," affrayd, payd, layd, sayd. Y 12, all, falle; G of N 32, all, fall, sail, hall. (c) The proportions are: The number of rhyme series in Play XV is 26. The number of rhyme series in G of N is 585. The number of agreeing rhyme series is 11/26 of all in Play XV or 42 per cent. The number of rhyme words agreeing is 25 in 84 lines of Play XV or 1 in 3 + lines. (7) The analysis of the identical rhyme series appearing between Play XVII, the Magi, and the Gospel of Nicodemus: (a) The identical rhymes are: Y 20, broght, soght; G of N 13, soght, broght. Y 16, broght, soght, noght, wroght; G of N 23," broght, soght, noght, wroght. Y 25, dele, wele; G of N 72, dele, wele. Y 14, heuen, neven; G of N 2, heuen, neuen. Y 8, scene, meene; G of N 76, mene, sene. Y 15, marre, werre; G of N 137, ware, mare. Y 19, say, lay, praye, way; G of N 105, say, pray, lay, way. Y 13, away, lay, saye, pay; G of N 72, pay, say, lay, oway. " Cf. also G of N 78, J)us, vs, Nichodemus, Ihesus. 8' Cf. also G of N 48, biforne, home, morne, lorne. «« Cf. also G of N 120, manere, here, fere, powere; 144, here, manere, powere, yhere. " Cf. also G of N 37, pan, man, can, bygan. 68 Cf. also G of N 30, horn, biforn, morn, lorn; 48, hiforne, home, morne, lorne. •» Cf. also G of N 30, born, biforn, morn, lorn; 48, biforne, borne, morne, lorne. '« Cf. also G of N 30, contre, be, me, degre; 80, me, be, se, pete. '» Cf. also G of N 77, sayd, layd, affrayd, payd; 145 Add., sayde, brayde, mayde, layde. " Cf. also G of N 81, soght, noght, broght, wroght. 38 MARIE C. LYLE (b) The included rhymes are : Y 11, was, passe; G of N 21," was, pas, Cayphas, was. Y 17, say, may; G of N 5,'* way, ^a^-, lay, may, pray, dray. Y 1, saye, waye; G of N 5," way, say, lay, may, pray, dray. Y 19, say, lay, praye, way; G of N 5, way, say, lay, maj^ pray, dray. Y 19, stande, hande; G of N 11,"'' land, hand, gleterand, stand. Y 1, saff, haue; G of N 64,'" saue, graue, haue, straue. Y 27, centre, be; G of N 30, contre, be, me, degre. Y 3, see, bee; G of N 19,"* me, se, ire, be. Y 8, seene, meene; G of N 11,"^ bene, mene, sene, bidene. Y 16, saide, paide; G of N 68,5" affrayd, payd, layd, sayd. Y 15, marre, werre; G of N 14," sw^are, mare, ware, hare. Y 14, name, same; G of N 10, ^^ blame, same, schame, name. Y 20, broght, soght; G of N 23,^3 broght, soght, noght, wroght. Y 7, morne, borne; Y 9, byforne, borne; Y 13, borne, lorne; Y 15, beforne, lorne; Y 19, home, morne; G of N 30,** born, biforn, morn, lorn. Y 22, wise, price; G of N 106, Paradyse, wyse, ryse, pryse. Y 8, stille, ill; G of N 19, styll, vntyll, will, ill. Y 6, skyll, wille; G of N 26,85 vntyll, ill, will, skyll. Y 26, myglit, knyght; G of N 149 Add., knyght, myght, nyght, right. Y 14, hetien, neven; G of N 33, seuen, neuen, heuen, euen. (c) The proportions are: The number of rhyme series in Play XVII is 109. The number of rhj'me series in G of N is 585. The number of agreeing rhyme series is 31/109 of all in Play XVII or 28+ per cent. The number of rhyme words agreeing is 70 in 336 lines of Play XVII or 1 in 4 + lines. (8) The analysis of the identical rhyme series appearing between Play XX, the Doctors, and the Gospel of Nicodemus: (a) The identical rh^^mes are: Y 21, Jesus, vs; G of N 70, 118, Ihesus, vs. Y 2, done, sone; G of N 37, *« 55, 129, done, sone. Y 23, wiffe, liff; G of N 16, 18 Add.," 150 Add., wyfe, lyf. Y 14, men, kene, then, ten; G of N 144, tett, pen, men, ken. Y 8, yhe, see; G of N 18, 139, he, se. Y 10, large, charge; G of N 86, charge, large. Y 20, saye, ay; G of N 68, say, ay. Y 7, laye, saye; G of N 71, say, lay. "' Cf. also G of N 24, Cayphas, was, pas, has; 70, -was, pas, ass, has; 77, Cayphas, has, was, (o\iet)pas; 79, helyas, was, pas, has; 94, Cayphas, has, pass, was; 108, Sathanas, was. pas, has. '♦ Cf. also G of N 17, say, may, lay, oway; 41, lay, say, way, may; 85, day, way, say, may; 110. may, oway, say, ay; 138, say, day, lay, may. " Cf. also G of N 17, say, may. lay, oway; 72, pay, say, lay, (o)way; 76, lay, ay, say, {o)way; 83. pray, say, {o)way, pay; 85, day, way, say, may; 89, pray, lay, say, {o)way; 110, may, {o)way, say, ay. '• Cf. also G of N 14. hand, land, stand, hand; 88, hand, stand, lyfand, vnderstand. " Cf. also G of N 147 Add., saue, haue, graue, staue. " Cf. also G of N 50. plente, he, be, se; 64, me, tre, se, be; 68, meneyhe, se, be, Galile; 80, me, be, se, pete; 135, we, preuete, se, be; 140, bounte, se, parde, be. " Cf. also G of N 92, mene, sene, bidene, wene. "> Cf. also G of N 77, sayd, layd, affrayd, payd. 91 Cf. also G of N 21, mare, sware, spare, ware; 59. ware, fare, sare, mare; 78. ware, mare, are, are. " Cf. also G of N 54, name, schame, blame, same. MCf. also G of N 48, soght, broght, wroght, thoght; 62, thoght, noght, broght, soght; 81, soght, noght, broght, wroght; 124, soght, wroght, broght, thoght; 140, broght, soght, noght, thoght. M Cf. also G of N 48, biforne, borne, morne, lorne. " Cf. also G of N 31, wyll, ill, skyll, Jjaretyll; 83. tyll, will, skyll, ill; 93, will, tyll, skyll, fullfyll. *• (vn)done. »' (be);y«e. THE YORK AND TOWNELEY CYCLES 39 (b) The included rhymes are: Y 12, brede, rede; G of N 6, rede, dede, brede, wede. Y 20, saye, ay; G of N 55," pray, ay, say, day. Y 7, laye, saye; G of N 5,^" way, say, lay, may, pray, dray. Y 1, maye, waye; G of N 5,^" way, say, lay, may, pray, dray. Y 17, spare, {■ao)more; G of N 21, mare, sware, spare, ware. Y 21, Jesus, vs; G of N 31,°^ Jjus, Ihesus, vs, bus. Y 8, wrought, noght; G of N 10, ^^ thoght, noght, broght, wroght. Y 2, done, sone; G of N 36,33 mon, so7i, trone, done. Y 24, tyde, bide; G of N 52, ^^ syde, hyde, tyde, byde. Y 23, wife, Uff; G of N 99, wife, ryfe, dryue, lyfe. Y 13, by, sekirly; G of N 57, dy, sykerly, by, mercy. Y 11, mene, bene; G of N 11, bene, mene, sene, bidene. Y 7, lere, here; G of N 39, lere, manere, here, here. (c) The proportions are: The number of rhyme series in Play XX is 96. The number of rhyme series in G of N is 585. The number of agreeing rhyme series is 21/96 of all in Play XX or 21 per cent. The number of rhyme words agreeing is 44 in 288 lines of Play XX or 1 in 6 + lines. (9) The analysis of the identical rhyme series appearing between Play XXIII, the Transfiguration, and the Gospel oj Nicodemus: (a) The identical rhymes are : Y 12, no^t, wrought, brought, sought; G of N 23, 81, broght, soght, noght, wroght. Y 11, bonne, sonne; G of N 60, bone, sone. Y 6, wyffe, Uff; G of N 16, 18 Add.,^* 150 Add., wyfe, lyf. Y 7, sight, myght; G of N 89, 119, myght, syght. Y 6, witnesse, is; G of N 135, 147, es, witnes. Y 14, sende, lende; G of N 43, send, lend. Y 18, stede, dede; G of N 27, 62, 112, 136, stede, dede. Y 12, helle, tell; G of N 128, tell, hell. Y 20, me, be; G of N 28, me, be. (b) The included rhymes are : Y 6, wyffe, Uff; G of N 99, wife, ryfe, dryue, lyfe. Y 1, sight, light; G of N 118, myght, lyght, syght, hyght. Y 7, sight, myght; G of N 5,3^ryght, myght, syght, dyght. Y 10, dight,fyght; G of N 131,fyght, dyght, myght, ryght. Y 19, sight, wighte; G of N 98, myght, ryght, wight, syght. Y 11, blys, mys; Y 15, his, blisse; G of N 107, mys, blys, his, Iwys. Y 6, witnesse, is; G of N 143, witnes, es, halynes, les. Y 14, sende, lende; G of N 104, hend, lend, send, end. Y 18, stede, dede; G of N 25," rede, dede, hatred, stede. Y 17, dene, sene; G of N 61,'^ dene, bene, tene, sene. Y 13, pe, be; G of N 125, pe, be, se, pete. Y 20, me, be; G of N 19,9^ me, se, fre, be. Y 19, pritdte, 88 Cf. also G of N 102, say, pray, ay, day; 110, may, oway, say, ay; 111, say, verray, oway, ay; 134, ay, say, may, way. 8' Cf. also G of N 17, say, may, lay, oway; 41, lay, say, way, may; 42, Jjai, allway, lay, say; 72, pay, say, lay, oway; 89, pray, lay, say, oway; 105, say, pray, lay, way; 114, lay, say, day, ay; 138, say, day, lay, may; 146 Add., say, play, lay, day. "> Cf. also G of N 17, say, may, lay, {o)way; 41, lay, say, way, may; 85, day, way, say, may; 110, may, 6)way, say, ay. '» Cf. also G of N 78, J>us, vs, Nichodemus, Ihesus. " Cf. also G of N 23, broght, soght, noght, wroght; 66, thoght, wroght, broght, noght; 81, soght, noght, broght, wroght. " Cf. also G of N 138, alssone, trone, done, sone. '* Cf. also G of N 145 Add., tyde, pride, bide, wyde. " {he)lyue. »• Cf. also G of N 92, ryght, hyght, syght, myght; 118, myght, lyght, syght, hyght. " Cf. also G of N 58, rede, ded, red, stede; 93, rede, dede, stede, godhede; 133, rede, stede, ded, godhede; 143, kynred, ded, stede, godhede. " Cf. also G of N 119, bene, clene, sene, kene. »» Cf. also G of N 30, contre, be, me, degre; 80, me, be, se, pete. 40 MARIE C. LYLE see; G of N 135, we, pretiete, se, be. Y 17, clere, seere; G of N 130, sere, clere, were, here. Y 9, 18, name, same; G of N 10,1"° blame, same, schame, name. (c) The proportions are: The number of rhyme series in Play XXIII is 80. The number of rhyme series in G of N is 585. The number of agreeing rhyme series is 25/80 of all in Play XXIII or 31 per cent. The number of rhyme words agreeing is 52 in 240 lines of Play XXIII or 1 in 4 + lines. (10) The analysis of the identical rhyme series appearing between Play XXIV, the Woman Taken in Adultery and the Raising of Lazarus, and the Gospel of Nicodemus: (a) The identical rhymes are : Y 13, togedir, pedir; G of N 131, togyder, pider. Y 19, right, sight; G of N 15, 74, syght, {vp)ryght. Y 10, 11, dede, stede; G of N 27, 62, 112, 136, stede, dede. Y 19, me, be; G of N 28, me, be. Y 12, kast, last, past, fast; G of N 65, ^oi kast, fast, past, last. Y 2, hande, fande; G of N 143, hand, f and. (b) The included rhymes are : Y 12, more, therfore; G of N 151 Add., perefore, lore, (euer)more, sore. Y 18, myght, light; G of N 118, myght, lyght, syght, hyght. Y 5, tyde, hyde, {a)bide, (gap); G of N 52, syde, hyde, tyde, byde. Y 12, frende, wende; G of N 45 Add., frende, wende, fende, ende. Y 1, 3, synne, blynne; G of N 16, ^^^ mankyn, syn, twyne, blyn. Y 7, feere, manere; G of N 120,^°^ manere, here, fere, powere. Y 8, sene, dene; G of N 61,^"* dene, bene, tene, sene. Y 4, rede, dede; G of N 6,^°^ rede, dede, brede, wede. Y 10, 11, dede, stede; G of N 25,"^ rede, dede, hatred, stede. Y 17, sent, monument; G of N 61,1"^ entent, monument, assent, sent. Y 9, 15, see, free; G of N 19, me, se, fre, be. Y 19, me, be; G of N 19,^"^ me, se, fre, be. Y 8, same, blame; Y 7, name, schame; G of N 10,^"' blame, same, schame, name. Y 14, may, away; G of N 17,"" say, may, lay, oway. (c) The proportions are : The number of rhyme series in Play XXIV is 70. The number of rhyme series in G of N is 585. The number of agreeing rhyme series is 24/70 of all in Play XXIV or 34 per cent. The number of rhyme words agreeing is 51 in 209 lines of Play XXIV or 1 in 4 lines. (11) The analysis of the identical rhyme series appearing between Play XXVII, the Last Supper, and the Gospel of Nicodemus: lo" Cf. also G of N 54, name, schame, blame, same. 101 Cf. also G of N 112, fast, kast, past, last. 1*2 Cf. also G of N 75, blyn, in, bigyn, syn; 123, blyn, syn, herein, wyn. 1"' Cf. also G of N 149 Add., manere, were, powere, yfere. iM Cf. also G of N 119, bene, dene, sene, kene. •" Cf. also G of N 25, rede, dede. hatred, stede; 58, rede, ded, red, stede; 93, rede, dede, stede, godhede; 133, rede, stede, ded, godhede. iM Cf. also G of N 58, rede, ded, red, stede; 93, rede, dede, stede, godhede; 133, rede, stede, ded, godhede; 143, kynred, ded, stede, godhede. •" Cf . also G of N 67, monument, went, sent, tent. iM Cf. also G of N 30, contre, be, me, degre; 80, me, be, se, pete. 1"' Cf. also G of N 54, name, schame, blame, same. •1" Cf. also G of N 110, may, oway, say, ay. THE YORK AND TOWNELEY CYCLES 41 (a) The identical rhymes are : Y 4, sone, done; G of N 37,"i 55, 129, sone, done. Y 16, me, bee; G of N 28, me, be. Y 14, d-well, Israeli; G of N 76, dwell, Israel. Y 11, steede, dede; G of N 27, 62, 112, 136, stede, dede. Y 9, paste, laste; G of N 106, last, past. Y 3, all, call, small, befall; G of N 58, all, bifall, call, small. (b) The included rhymes are : Y 4, sone, done; G of N 36, "^ mon, son, trone, done. Y 15, strife, liff; G of N 122, lyue, stryue, bilj'ue, dryue. Y 7, (be)/y(ie, bide; G of N 52, "^ sj-de, hyde, tyde, byde. Y 16, me, bee; G of N 19,"* me, se, fre, be. Y 4, see, pee; G of N 125, pe, be, se, pete. Y 14, divell, Israeli; G of N 108, hell, dwell, Israel, dwell. Y 11, steede, dede; G of N 25,"= rede, dede, hatred, stede. Y 11, lende, wende; G of N 40, hend, lend, kend, wend. Y 6, trewe, newe; G of N 7,"^ trew, Ihesu, new, knew. Y 9, paste, laste; G of N 65,"'^ kast, fast, past, last. Y 1, has, paas; G of N 24, "^ Caj-phas, was, pas, has. Y 15, haue, saue; G of N 64,"^ saue, graue, haue, straue. (c) The proportions are: The number of rh^^me series in Play XXVII is 62. The number of rhyme series in G of N is 585. The number of agreeing rhyme series is 18/62 of all in Play XXVII or 29 — per cent. The number of rhyme words agreeing is 38 in 187 lines of Play XXVII or 1 in 5 lines. (12) The analysis of the identical rhyme series appearing between Play XXXV, the Crucifixion, and the Gospel of Nicodemus: (a) The identical rhymes are : Y 6, S07ie, done; G of N 37,^-° 55, 129, sone, done. Y 10, doo, too; G of N 33, (vn)/o, do. Y 16, side, {a)bide, tyde, hyde; G of N 52, syde, hyde, tyde, byde. Y 13, me, see; G of N 132, me, se. Y 23, certayne, agayne; G of N 151 Add., agayfie, certayne. Y 2, all, schall; G of N 44, 134, all, sail. Y 18, caste, laste, faste, paste; G of N 112, fast, kast, past, last. (b) The included rhymes are : Y 6, sone, done; G of N 36,^-^ mon, son, trone, done. Y 24, mone, sone; G of N 36, mon, son, trone, done. Y 22, noght, sought; G of N 23, i-^ broght, soght, noght, wroght. Y 1, loo, doo; G of N 35, lo, do, vnto, bro. Y 24, stille, wille; G of N 19, styll, vntvll, will, ill. Y 1, fullfille, tille; G of N 93, '-^ will, tyll, skyll, fullfyll. Y 14, light, hi'ght; "1 (vn)dowe. "2 C£. also G of N 138, alssone, trone, done, sone. "' Cf. also G of N 145 Add., tyde, pride, bide, wyde. 1'* Cf. also G of N 30, contra, be, me, degre; 64, me, tre, se, be; 80, me, be, se, pete. 1" 58, rede, ded, red, stede; 93, rede, dede, stede, godhede; 133, rede, slede, ded, godhede; 143, kynred, ded, slede, godhede. •'6 Cf. also G of N 18, lew, ne-d.-, trew, rew. »7 Cf. also G of N 112, fast, kast, past, last. "8 Cf. also G of N 70, was, pas, ass, has; 77, Cayphas, has, was, (ouer)/>os; 79, helyas, was, pas, has; 94, Cayphas, has, pass, was; 108, Sathanas, was, pas, has. 1" Cf. also G of N 147 Add., saue, haue, graue, staue. "" {vn)done. 121 Cf. also G of N 138, alssone, trone, done, sone. >" Cf. also G of N 62, thoght, noght, broght, soghl; 81, soght, noght, broght, wroght; 140, broght, soght, noght, thoght. i« Cf. also G of N 123, ill. tyll, skyll, fullfyll. 42 MARIE C. LYLE G of N 118, myght, lyght, syght, hyghi. Y 9, blynne, ynne; G of N 75, blyn, in, bigyn, syn. Y 7,fesie, teste; G of N 53, best, threst, west, fest. Y 19, felle, telle; G of N 2^"-* Gamaliel, fell, spell, tell. Y 5,fende, ende; G of N 45 Add., frende, wende,fefide, ende. Y 13, me, see; G of N 19,^-^ tne, se, fre, be. Y 17, we, bee; G of N 71,i-^ we, cete, Galile, be. Y 2, all, schall; G of N lOO.i" (with)a//, thrall, sail, bifall. Y 20, smale, all; G of N 26,128 hall, all, small, call. (c) The proportions are: The number of rhyme series in Play XXXV is 100. The number of rhyme series in G of N is 585. The number of agreeing rhyme series is 22/100 of all in Play XXXV or 22 per cent. The number of rhyme words agreeing is 48 in 300 lines of Play XXXV or 1 in 6+ lines. (13) The analysis of the identical rhyme series of Play XLIV, the Descent of the Holy Spirit, and the Gospel of Nicodemus: (a) The identical rhymes are: Y 19, botine, sone; G of N 60, bone, sone. Y 10, myght, light, highte, sight; G of N 118, myght, lyght, syght, hyght. Y 17, myght, sight; G of N 89, 119, myght, syght. Y 5, hyde, tyde, bide, {a)side; G of N 52, syde, hyde, tyde, byde. Y 19, be, me; G of N 28, me, be. Y 6, hende, sende; G of N 56, hend, send. Y 15, drede, nede; G of N 42, 140, dred, nede. Y 12, heuyn,euyn; G of N 84, 99, hetien, euen. Y 11, emang, sange; G of N 8, sang, omang. (b) The included rhymes are : Y 5, till, still; G of N 19,12!) ^tyll, {vn)tyll, will, ill. Y 17, myght, sight; G of N 5,i3o ryght, myght, syght, dyght. Y 2, wise, avise; G of N 141, avyse, prophecyse, clergyse, wyse. Y 19, be, me; G of N 80, me, he, se, pete. Y 7, wente, sente; G of N 67,i'i monu- ment, went, sent, tent. Y 15, drede, nede; G of N 110, forbede, nede, drede, lede. Y 12, heuyn, euyn; G of N 33, seuen, neuen, heuen, euen. Y 6, haue, saue; G of N 64, i'- saue, graue, haue, straue. (c) The proportions are: The number of rhyme series in Play XLIV is 71. The number of rhyme series in G of N is 585. The number of agreeing rhyme series is 17/71 of all in Play XLIV or 24— per cent. The number of rhyme words agreeing is 38 in 224 lines of Play XLIV or 1 in 6 lines. (14) The analysis of the identical rhyme series^^^ appearing between the Towneley Conspiracio (the Northern Septenar strophes) and the Gospel of Nicodemus: «* Cf. also G of N 117, tell. htW, jell, snell; ISO Add.. Ulle, speWe, felle, elle. '5« Cf. also G of N 80. me, be. se, pete; 89, he. se, we, me. '*• Cf. also G of N 101, we, he, gle, be; 135. we, preuete. se, be. «' Cf. also G of N 114, all, bifall, sail, small; 132, all, sail, call. aall. »» Cf. also G of N 114, all, bifall. sail, small. «• Cf. also G of N 49. styll, tyll, skyll, spyll. * "0 Cf. also G of N 92, ryght. hyght, syght, myght; 118. myght,\yght, syght, hyght. "' Cf. also G of N 76, hent, present, sent, went; 84, sent, ment. went, entent. "2 Cf. also G of N 147 Add., saue, haue, graue, staue. '»» I have retained Mr. Pollard's numbering although it does not correspond to the Northern Septenar form. THE YORK AND TOWNELEY CYCLES 43 (a) The identical rhymes are : T 23, wyll, tyll; G of N 12, 14,"^ tyll, will. T 10, present, assent; G of N 31, pres- ent, assent. T 28, ken, men, then, ten; G of N 144, ten, pen, men, ken. T 19, els, dwelles, mels, tels; G of N 35, dwelles, telles, melles, elles. T 27, avayll, counsayll; G of N 149 Add., availe, consaile. T 28, take, wake, sake, make; G of N 84, make, (ioT)sake, wake, take. T 16, say, day; G of N 23, 28, 57, say, day. (b) The included rhymes are : T 31, skyll, will; G of N 26,i« vntyll, ill, will, skyll. T 45, hight, myght; G of N 92,136 ryght, hyght, syght, myght. T 25, went, assent; G of N 129, went, assent, hent, entent. T Z3, we, be; G of N 71, "7 we, cete, Galile, be. T 15, thus, vs; G of N 31,"8 pus, Ihesus, vs, bus. T 41, seyn, teyn; G of N 45, sene, wene, tene, bene. T 39, wroght, broght; G of N 48, soght, broght, wroght, thoght. T 25, kyd, byd; G of N 6, byd, kyd, hyd, dyd. T 37, yll, styll; G of N 19, 5^3^//, vntyll, will, ill. T ii, say, pay; G of N 47,133 pray, day, pay, say. T 47, glad, had; G of N 133, had, glad, bad, stad. (c) The proportions are: The number of rhyme series in the Towneley play is 85. The number of rhyme series in G of N is 585. The number of agreeing rhyme series is 18/85 of all in the Towneley play or 21 + per cent. The number of rhyme words agreeing is 42 in 264 lines of the Towneley play or 1 in 6 lines. The preceding analysis indicates that practically the same relationship, as regards the presence of identical rhymes, exists in the Gospel oj Nicodemus and each of the York plays composed in the Northern Septenar form. The Harr Giving of Hell, clearly a revised play because of the different descrip- tion accorded it by Burton in the list,^^° and containing as it does, both the subject-matter and the stanzaic form of the Gospel of Nicodemus, seems to be a fair standard by which to compare the other plays. In the proportion of rhyme series, only two plays (XI and XX) fall below 22 per cent, the standard set by the Harrowing of Hell, and one play (XV) almost doubles this proportion. In the number of agreeing rhyme words, no play falls below the standard. The Northern Septenar strophes in the Towneley Conspiracio also show a similar influence. Since the material derived from the Gospel of Nicodemus represents a later addition to the York cycle, the adoption of its metrical form is like- wise to be regarded as a later innovation. The Harrowing of Hell, which combines both the subject-matter and the metre of the source, was probably one of the first plays revised. Three other plays, XXIX, XXX, XXXIII, showing the influence of Nicodemus material, were probably 1" {vn)tyll. "»5 Cf. also G of N 31, wyll, ill, skyll, Jjaretyll; 83, tyll, will, skyll, ill; 93, will, tyll, skyll, fullfyll. "» Cf. also G of N 118, myght, lyght, syght, hyght; 128, myght, wight, ryght, hyght. "' Cf. also G of N 101, we, he. gle, be; 135, we, preuete, se, be. i« Cf. also G of N 78, pus, vs, Nichodemus, Ihesus. "• Cf. also G of N 72, pay, say, lay, oway; 83, pray, say, oway, pay. '•• See Burton list, Smith, op. cit. intro. xxvi. 44 MARIE C. LYLE originally composed in the Northern Septenar, and subsequently altered to their present metrical forms. ^''^ The great number of plays extant in the Northern Septenar stanza or later modifications of it^*- point to an extensive revision. Scriptural accuracy and doctrinal correctness appear to be character- istics of the Northern Septenar plays, characteristics which were not entirely lost sight of even in succeeding revisions. One of the craft records shows the Masons protesting against supporting their play any longer, on the express ground that it had no scriptural basis. "^ The York plays, on the whole, are reverent and seemly in tone;'*^ thej^ are generally regarded as uninteresting and conventional in material and as formal, dignified, and serious in manner.^^^ For the most part, they follow Biblical accounts with only occasional deviations into apocryphal legends.'^" The doctrinal object of the whole scheme of the mysteries is J seldom lost sight of in the development of individual plays. Isaac is not the terrified youth of the other English plays, but a prototype of Christ himself, a man of thirty years, calm and resigned in the face of God's command.'" In the play of Cain and Abel, the duty of paying tithes is emphasized by the angel who delivers the message from the Deit^^^*^ Although incidents from the Northern Passion have been used in develop- ing the play of the Last Supper, they have been rearranged according to the order given in the Gospel of St. John.^*^ In contrast to the Towneley cycle. Ten Brink^^"^ has already pointed out certain features of the York plays which indicate scriptural accuracy or fitting moderation. "In the play of the Deluge," he says, ''Noah's wife is obstinate and quarrelsome, as may be expected of her, but there appears at least some motive for her conduct, and the composure and patience of the patriarch are guaranties that the conjugal quarrel will be maintained within definite bounds. The York Pilate is conceived to some extent, as human and not so much caricature and even the Herod of the history of the Passion shows some touches of justice. At the trial of Christ before the High Priest, Annas and Caiaphas have, as it were, changed parts; yet the York Annas is ver}^ far from being raised to that »« Gayley, op. cit. 154. «« Davidson, op. cit. 137. , "'Sellers, York Memorandum Book, Surlees Society 125:123. '" Smith, op. cit. intro. xlvii; Clarke, Miracle Plays in England 18. '♦•Pollard, op. cit. EETSES 71:intro. xxix; Hemingway, English Nativity Plays, p. xxxix. '"Smith, loc. cit.; Kamann, Ueber Quellen und Sprache der York Plays Anglia 10:189 ff.; Holthausen, Nachtrag zu den Quellen der York Plays, Herrig's Archiv 85:425; 86:280 ff. '" Ten Brink, History of English Literature 2:270; Courthope, History of English Poetry 1:405. '«» Clarke, o/>. cit. 18. '« Cady, op. cit. Mod. Phil. 10:591. '" Ten Brink, loc. cit. THE YORK AND TOWNELEY CYCLES 45 fiendish ingenuit}' of spiteful wickedness which astonished us in the Woodkirk Caiaphas." Probably, then, revisions at York were influenced, to some extent, by a desire to redeem the plays from the disrepute into which they had fallen in the fourteenth century. ^^^ There were, it would seem, two principles underlying the York revisions, those of expansion and contraction. Expansion is seen in the use of more complicated stanzaic forms whose rhj^me schemes demanded an expansion in phraseology, and in the introduction of additional apocryphal material; contraction is seen in the omission of certain incidents not conformable to scriptural accounts or to accepted authorities. These principles, as the basis of the York revisions, will be considered in the discussion of the individual plays. ^"^ The Old Theory of a York Parent Cycle Untenable Since it is probable that the Northern Septenar metre in the York cycle belongs to the period of revision, it becomes clear that the plays occurring in that metre can no longer be regarded as the remains of the parent cycle, as argued by Mr. Davidson. ^^^ Assuming that the parent cycle must have been written by one man in a single metre, he selected the plays in the Northern Septenar stanza because they were the only plays having an identical metre which, he believed, could possibly have formed a cj^cle.^^^ This assumption, however, seems untenable. In the first place, the incidents which form the subject of the Northern Septenar plan's are not those which would certainly have been included •" Robert Grossetete and Robert de Brunne considered attendance at the mysteries a sinful act. See Collier, Annals of the Stage 6 ff. The ranting of Herod and Pilate had become stock situations by Chau- cer's time. See the Miller's Prologue and Tale. 1E2 See below, ch. IV. 15' Davidson, op. cit. 137 ff. Mr. Davidson's theory has been generally accepted: see Coblentz, Mod. Lang. Notes 10:77; Gayley, op. cit. 153 ff.. Representative English Comedies intro. xxiv. Internal. Quart. 10:125; Cady, op. cit. Mod. Phil. 10:590. Previous to Mr. Davidson's study. Professor Hohlfeld {op. cit. Anglia 11:248) suggested that the Northern Septenar plays, because of their dignified and religious character, were just such plays as would surely have belonged to an original cycle, with the possible ex- ception of XL XXIII, and part of XXIV. ■" By means of rhyme scheme tests indicating a common authorship, Mr. Davidson {op. cit. 137 ff.) includes the following plays in his proposed parent cycle: II, the Creation to the Fifth Day, VIII, the Building of the Ark, IX, Noah and His Wife, the Flood and Its Waning, X, Abraham's Sacrifice of Isaac, XII, the Annunciation, the Prologue, XV, the Angels and the Shepherds (the first three strophes and thelastfour, omitting the comic episodes), XVII, the Coming of the Three Kings to Herod, the Adoration (strophes 22, 23, 24, he thinks may have been rewritten), XX, Christ -with the Doctors in the Temple, XXIII, the Transfiguration, XXIV, the Woman Taken in Adultery, the Raising of Lazarus, W. XX, Conspiracio, (Towneley) from "Cayphas" to "Tunc dicet Sanctus Johannes," later supplanted in York, XXVII, the Last Supper, XXXV, the Crucifixion, XXXVII, the Harrouing of Hell, XLIV, the Descent of the Holy Spirit, Mr. Davidson, however, is not justified in including the Annunciation. It occurs in double quatrains, as does the Visit to Elizabeth, and is part of the same play. If he includes the one, he has no reason, it would seem to omit the other. Since he does not apply his rhyme scheme tests to the double quatrains of this play, he presents no proof showing their connection with the Northern Septenar strophes, and therefore, is not entitled to include the Annunciation in his parent cycle. Other scholars have also expressed opinions regarding the legitimacy of including certain plays. Mr. Coblentz {Mod. Lang. Notes 10:77) accepts all of Davidson's parent cycle except the Wakefield Conspiracio. Professor Gayley {Plays of Our Forefathers 153, n. 1) omits Play IX. 46 MARIE C. LYLE in a cycle developed from liturgical plays. ^^^ Of the nine incidents clearly demanded by any Nativity and Resurrection liturgical groups, the Prophetae, the Annunciation, the Nativity, the Shepherds, the Magi, the Qtiem Quaeritis, the Hortulamis, the Peregrini and perhaps the Incredulity of Thomas, Mr. Davidson's cycle includes but three, the Prophetae, the Shepherds, and the Magi. Besides this omission of certain essential plays, the proposed parent cycle includes plays which could have been present, it would seem, only in a fairly complete cycle. The most striking case is that of the Transfigura- tion, which is not found in any of the other highly developed English cycles. Although plays dealing with Christ's ministry, such as the Doctors, the Woman Taken in Adultery, and Lazarus, may have existed in the parent cycle, their presence in an early stage seems unlikely since the material w^hich they treat i^ not fundamental in cyclical formation. Moreover, Mr. Davidson himself admits the superior age of certain other plays of supposed "church origin. "^^^ Separation of the York and Towneley Cycles The contact between York and Towneley must have extended into the period in which the influence of the Gospel oj Nicodemus was felt, because two of the plays common to both cycles, the Harrowing of Hell and the Resurrection, include material derived from that source. The separation must have occurred, however, before that material was com- pletely assimilated, for three York plays incorporate Nicodemus materiaP^^ while the corresponding Towneley plays show no trace of it. Moreover, the number of York plays in the Northern Septenar metre far exceeds the number of Towneley plays in the same metre, thus indicating that, in all probability, the Towneley cycle includes certain plays of the parent cycle which, at York, were subsequently turned into the Northern Septenar metre or other stanzaic forms. 155 The reference in the Statutes of York Cathedral to the Pastores and Stella (^Lincoln Statutes 2:98; Chambers. The Medieval Stage 2:399; Craig, Origin of the Old Testament Plays Mod. Phil. 10:485) makes it probable that the York cycle had its origin in the liturgy, and that York had liturgical plays of the Nativity and probably the Resurrection. Since it can not be determined at present, whether or not there existed at York a liturgical play on the Passion, the Passion group will not be included in the present discussion. See Chambers, op. cit. 2:ch. xviii-xxii; Cady, op. cil Mod. Phil. 10:587 ff.; and above, ch. I, p. 29. is« Davidson, op. cit. 137. "' See above, p. 30 ff. CHAPTER III THE INTERRELATION OF THE YORK AND TOWNELEY METRES In the identical plays of the York and Towneley cycles,^ four distinct metres occur, the Northern Septenar, the "Burns" measure, the double quatrain, and the ten-line (six plus four) stanza,^ rh^miing aabaabcbcb. If the identical plan's be regarded, not as "borrowings" on the part of Towneley from York, but as existing in the period before York and Towne- ley became separate cycles, we shall have to do with three stages in the development of metrical forms: the parent cycle, with its characteristic metres, and the York and Townele}^ cycles, each with its characteristic metres introduced after the separation. Since the greater part of six plays of the parent cycle escaped revision in both cycles, it is possible that certain other plaj^s were revised in one cycle but remained practically unchanged in the other. Some of these plays may be determined by means of metrical forms common to both C3'Cles. Apparently, a common Resurrection group composed entirely in the "Bums" stanza originally existed in the parent cycle. The theory that Towneley "borrowed" certain plays from York encounters serious dif- ficulties in the case of the Resurrection. To suppose that Towneley already possessed a Resurrection group but wished to exchange its own play for the York Resurrection seems improbable; to suppose that the Towneley cycle, at that time, was so small and incomplete that the York Resurrection was borrowed to fill an existing gap is likewise inconceivable, for no matter how small or incomplete a cycle might have been, it would certainly have included a Resurrection proper.^ The very core of a Resur- rection group is in the Resurrection proper, and without that, the existence of a group of Resurrection plays would be impossible. If Towneley did not possess a play of the Resurrection proper before such a supposed bor- rowing, then it coiild not have possessed other plays immediately follow- ing the actual resurrection of Jesus, such as the Appearance of Jesus to Mary Magdalene, the Peregrini, and the Incredulity of Thomas. Practically a complete Resurrection group composed in the "Burns" stanza is still extant in individual plays of either one cycle or the other: the Resurrection proper, still identical in both cycles, the Towneley Peregrini (most of it), the York Incredulity of Thomas, and two strophes of the Towneley 1 The Pharaoh, the Doctors, and the Harrowing of Hell are written in the Northern Septenar, t^e Resurrection in the "Burns" measure, the Last Judgment in double quatrains, and On the Way to Calvary in the ten-line stanza. * Saintsbury, History of English Prosody 1 :209. * Chambers, ibid. 2:ch. xviii-xxii. 48 MARIE C. LYLE Appearance of Jesus to Alary Magdalene. A Resurrection group naturally includes these four incidents, and therefore it seems reasonable to conclude that the parent cycle included a complete Resurrection group in the "Burns" stanza. The parent cycle may also have included certain other plays in the "Burns" metre. Perhaps the Towneley Suspencio hide and Magi and the York Expulsion belong to this stage. Similarities in stanzaic form, verse movement, and lack of structural alliteration connect these plays with those of the Resurrection group in the same metre. The use of identical rhymes, though less evident, may be considered significant in indicating a common influence. The York Resurrection will be selected as the standard by which to compare all the plays occurring in the "Burns" metre. (1) The analysis of the identical rhyme series occiirring between York XLII, the Incredulity oj Thomas, and York XXXVIII, the Resurrection: (a) The identical rhymes are : Y XLII:26, feele, wele; Y XXXVIII :22, fele, wele. Y XLII:13, me, see; Y XXXVIII:32, see, me. Y XLII:23, (vn)wwe, rise; Y XXXVIII :27, ryse, wise. (b) The included rhymes are : Y XLII:18, man, wan; Y XXXVIII:16, wanne, blanne, raanne, Jeanne. • Y XLII:22, gajtg, mang; Y XXXVIII:10, {a)mong, gang, lang, wrang. Y XLII:19, pyne, tyne; Y XXXVIII :33, pyne, tyne, medicvne, hyne. Y XLII:23, {Yn)wise, rise; Y XXXVIII :6, wise, rise, dispise, assise. Y XLII:2, sloo, goo; Y XXXVIII :57, goo, soo, sloo, woo. Y XLII:17, morne, lorne; Y XXXVIII:65, borne, beforne, morne, lorne. Y XLII :5, soghte, broght, pought; Y XXXVIII :40, pought, sought, brotight, noght. (c) The proportions are: ■The number of rhyme series in York XLII is 66. The number of rhyme series in York XXXVIII is 152. The number of agreeing rhyme series is 10/66 of all in York XLII or 15+ per cent. The number of rhyme words agreeing is 21 in 198 lines of York XLII or 1 in 9>^ lines. (2) The analysis of the identical rhyme series appearing between York XXII, the Temptation, and York XXXVIII, the Resurrection: (a) The identical rhymes are : Y XXII :3, fetide, ende; Y XXXVIII :6, {oi)fende, ende. Y XXII :8, ill, will; Y XXXVIII:10, will, ill. Y XXII:31, till, will; Y XXXVIII:71, {wn)till, will. (b) The included rhymes are: Y XXII: 16, falle, schall; Y XXXVIII :68, schall, all, call, {he)fall. Y XXII :25, hende, frende; Y XXXVIII:44,^ layne, wende, frende, hende. Y XXII:27, wende, ende; Y XXXVIII :58, hende, wende, frendes, ende. Y XXII: 17, niyghi, sight; Y XXXVIII :32, dight, wight, sight, myght. Y XXII :13, allone, ilkone; Y XXXVIII :26,'i ilkone, allone, anone, gone. Y XXII :6, 10, moo, two; Y XXXVIII :38, moo, also, goo, to. Y XXII :5, borne, morne; Y XXXVIII :65, borne, beforne, morne, lorne. « Cf. also Y XXXVIII :58, hende, vrende, frendes, ende. • Cf. also Y XXXVIII:64, (euer)i7feo«e, stone, none, allone. THE YORK AND TOWNELEY CYCLES 49 (c) The proportions are : The number of rhyme series in York XXII is 70. The number of rhyme series in York XXXVIII is 152. The number of agreeing rhyme series is 10/70 of all in York XXII or 14+ per cent. The number of rhyme words agreeing is 20 in 210 lines of York XXII or 1 in 10 lines. (3) The analysis of the identical rhyme series appearing between York VI, the Expulsion, and York XXXVIII, the Resurrection: (a) The identical rhymes are : Y VI:28, wrange, emange, lange, gange; Y XXXVIII :10, among, gang, lang, wrang. Y VI :2, tille, wille; Y XXXVIII: 71, i\'n)till, will. Y VI:24, gilte, spilte; Y XXXVIII :46, spilte, gilte. (b) The included rhymes are : Y VI:23, bydene, sene; Y XXXVIII :3,^ mayntayne, bedene,-wene,sene. Y VI:25, pought, nought; Y XXXVIII :57, pought, sought, brought, noght. (c) The proportions are: The number of rhyme series in York VI is 58. The number of rhyme series in York XXXVIII is 152. The number of agreeing rhyme series is 5/58 of all in York VI or 9+ per cent. The number of rhyme words agreeing is 14 in 168 lines of York VI or 1 in 12 lines. (4) The analysis of the identical rhymes appearing between Towneley XXVII, the Peregrini, and York XXXVIII, the Resfirrection: (a) The identical rhymes are : T 26, drede, yede; Y 62, ^ede, drede. T 60, thtis, vs; Y 70, pits, vs. (b) The included rhymes are : T 51, away, say; Y 27,^ saie, purvaye, may, away. T 28, saw, knaw; Y 20,^ with- drawe, awe, sawe, knaive. T 16, tre, me; Y 46, me, three, free, tre. T 32, he, se; Y 37, free, see, be, thre. T 6, ded, red; Y 4,^ steede, hede, dede, rede. Til, dede, yede; T 26, drede, yede; Y 54, dede, ^ede, drede, nede. T 18, two, go; Y 43, soo, froo, too, goo. (c) The proportions are: The number of rhyme series in Towneley XXVII is 76. The number of rhyme series in York XXXVIII is 152. The number of agreeing rhyme series is 10/76 of all in Towneley XXVII or 13 + per cent. The number of rhyme words agreeing is 20 in 246 lines of Towneley XXVII or 1 in 12 lines. (5) The analysis of the identical rhyme series appearing between Towneley XIV, the Magi, and York XXXVIII, the Resurrection: 5 Cf. also Y XXXVIII :8, mene, sene, bedene, v.-ene. ' Cf. also Y 29, maye, day, away, saie; 49, saie, laye, aivaye, ay; 71, saie, daye, araye, awaye. 8 Cf. also Y 61, sa'u;e, knawe, awe, drawe. 9 Cf. also Y 53, rede, dede, steede, hede. 50 MARIE C. LYLE (a) The identical rhymes are: T 33, I's, thus; Y 70, pus, vs. T 43, tnorne, home, lorne, beforne; Y 65, home, befome, mome, lome. T 50, to, do; Y 24, (l3er)/o, do. T 38, 85, wyll, vntyll; Y 71, vntill, will. T 81, heynd, iveynd, leynd,freynd; Y 44, layne (letidc), •wende,frende, hende. T 40, hende, ende; Y 26, hende, ende. T 73, «xe, 5e; Y 32, see, me. T 41, rerf, sted, hed, ded; Y 4, 53, steede, hedc, dede, rede. T 46, way, say; Y 56, way, sate. T 78, say, lay, way, may; Y 41, sate, laye, may, way. (b) The included rhymes are : T 23, none, alone; Y 64, (euer)ilkone, stone, none, allone. T 90, broght, soght; Y 40, Jjought, sought, brought, noght. T SO, fro, so; Y 25,^0 soo, goo. froo, moo. T 3, ying, thyng; Y 5," thyng, beriyng, ping, thidingis. T 13, ying, kyng; T 63, ihyng, kyng; Y 15, thyng, ping, mornj^ng, kyng. T 48, rewe, knew; Y 14, rewe, enewe, trewe, knewe. T 40, hende, ende; T 97, eiide, weynd; T 101, heynd, weynd; Y 58, hende, wende, frendes, ende. T 36, 104, cuntre, be; T 24, 34, me, he; Y 1, me, degre, cotttre, be. T 58, me, thre; Y 46, 7ne, three, free, tre. T 17, 89, ctmtre, se; Y 74, contre, degre, be, see. T 22, weynd, send; Y 73, amende, kende, sende, wende. T 103, manere, sere; Y 36, dere, manere, clere, sere. T 46, way, say; Y 41,^2 ^Q^-g^ laye, may, way. T 83, awaj, say; Y 27," 5aje, purva3'e, may, away. (c) The proportions are: The number of rhyme series in Towneley XIV is 206. The number of rhj'me series in York XXXVIII is 152. The number of agreeing rhyme series is 26/206 of all in Towneley XIV or 12 + per cent. The number of rhj-me words agreeing is 60 in 630 lines of Towneley XIV or 1 in 10+ lines. The proportion of identical rhyme series occurring in the York plays under discussion and the York Resurrection, selected as a standard, varies from ten to fifteen per cent; the proportion between the Towneley plays and the standard falls within the same limits, namely, twelve and thirteen per cent. The proportion of identical words is also similar: the York plays show an identity with the standard in from one in nine and one half lines to one in twelve lines; the Towneley plays from one in ten lines to one in twelve lines. It is, then, apparent that the plays of both cycles in the "Burns" metre were composed under the same influence, and must, therefore, represent plaj^s of the parent cycle. The presence in the Towneley cycle of certain plaj^s in the Northern Septenar^^ and in the "Burns" measure, shown by rhyme scheme tests to be plays of the parent cycle, supplanted in York bj^ other versions, leads to the conclusion that other plays of the parent cycle in other metres may now exist in Towneley. The Last Judgment, in double quatrains, and On the Way to Calvary, in the ten-line (six plus four) stanza, practically identical in the two cycles, are cases in point. The Towneley Abraham *• Cf. also Y 69, soo, froo, goo, mo. " Cf. also y 15, thyng, ping, mornying, kyng. "Cf. also Y 43, sate, daye, maye, waye; 52, day, waye, sate, afifraye. *' Cf. also Y 29, maye, day, away, sale; 49, saie, laye, awaye, ay; 71, sale, daye, araye, awaye. >* See Davidson, op. cit. 144. THE YORK AND TOWNELEY CYCLES 51 and Isaac as well as John the Baptist}^ occur in double quatrains similar to those of the Last Judgment, and like the plays in the Northern Septenar and "Burns" metres, may perhaps also be regarded as parent plays sub- sequently revised in York. The presence in the Towneley Talents of strophes rhyming ababcbc may bear some connection with the York plays in the same metre, the Nativity, the Baptism, and the Entry. It is even possible that the parent cycle made a more extended use of this metre than is apparent in the extant plays : the play of the Talents, now omitted from the York cycle but described in a 1422 record,^^ may be partly pre- served in the ababcbc strophes of the Towneley play.^^ Some significance may also be attached to the fact that the main action of the play appears in this form, while elaborations appear in other metres and may, therefore, represent additions to or revisions of the parent play. In all probability, there is present in either one cycle or the other, certain parent plays whose metrical forms are no longer common to both cycles. The determination of such plays is, of course, more or less problem- atical, but there still remain numerous similarities in structural outline and in verbal agreement which may be noted as indicative of the original identity of the two cycles. " Mr. Pollard, {op. cit. EETSES 71:intro. xxvi),believesthat they "belong to the period when the York plays were being incorporated into the cycle." According to Professor Gayley {ibid. 134, n. 1), they represent early alternatives of York plays, later discarded in York. He also includes the Peregrini in this group. " See Miss Smith, ibid, intro. xxv. The play is described thus: tibi Pilatus et alii milites ludebant ad talos pro vestimentis Jesu et pro eis sortes mittebant et ea parciebantur inter se. '' Professor Hohlfeld {Anglia 11:299 flf.), believes that the Towneley play of the Talents is an imita- tion of the condensed accounts now extant in York XXXIV and XXXV, but it seems more likely that the York scenes represent later revisions of the parent play, now extant in part in the Towneley cycle. CHAPTER IV THE SITUATION IN THE INDIVIDUAL PLAYS "We find in the extant plays of York and Towneley many similarities which bear out the theory of an original identity of the two cycles. Because of probable independent revisions in both cycles after the separa- tion of the two, the similarities naturally differ in degree and kind. Accord- ingly, nearly every pl^y presents a separate problem. Some plays show practical verbal agreement while certain other plays contain very little parallel phraseology but reveal a close similarity in structural outline. Slight revisions in either one c^^cle or the other or in both may account for the minor differences discernible in the former group of plays, whereas thorough revisions in either one cycle or the other or in both must be con- ceded in order to explain the extensive differences occurring in the latter group of plays. The possibility of independent revisions in both cycles after the separa- tion need offer no difficulties. The large number of stanzaic forms in the English mysteries indicates the existence of early and late plays. ^ Creize- nach^ and Chambers^ suggest that "to the end of the history of the religious drama, the older t^^pes, which it threw out as it evolved, coexisted with the newer ones"; Mr. Davidson^ is of the opinion that "a cycle con- tains the plays, independent or revised, of many writers of different periods and schools," that "it contains the work of many authors, writing on related subjects in different styles and metres. In this work," he continues, "very possibly every generation for two centuries is represented." Pro- fessor Hohlfeld^ speaks of the revisions through which it is certain both the York and Towneley cycles passed, by which it became possible, he claims, for an original version to be changed to an unrecognizable degree. Airs. Frank, in her recent article,^ concludes that "we have in Towneley as in York a collection of plays each subjected, at least during its formative period, to the vicissitudes of life within its particular craft." Because of probable changes which both cycles were undergoing all the time, we shall not be surprised if we find in some plays little evidence conclusively indicative of an original identity. In such cases, generally speaking, late metrical forms or extensive elaborations enable us to " Ten Brink. History of English Literature 2:253-87; Pollard, The Towneley Plays EETSES 71:intro. xxiii ff.; Gayley, Representative English Comedies l:intro. xxiii-xxsi; Plays of Our Forefathers 125-204; Bunzen, Ein Beilrag zur Kritik der Wakefielder Mysterien 7 ff.; Cady, op. cit. Jour. Eng. Ccr. Phil. 10:572 ff. ' Creizenach, Geschichte des neueren Dramas 1:218. ' Chambers, The Medieval Stage 2:96; see also ch. xxii. * Davidson, op. cit. 172-73. « Hohlfeld. op. cit. Anglia 11:256. • Mrs. Frank, op. cit. Mod. Phil. 15:187. THE YORK AND TOWNELEY CYCLES 53 identify the plays as revisions in one of the two cycles; nor is it unlikely that certain plays underwent independent revisions in both cycles. A detailed comparison of the two cycles reveals six groups of plays : (1) To the first group belong the plays which still remain identical in the two cycles : Pharaoh, the Doctors, On the Way to Calvary, the Harrowing of Hell, the Resurrection, the Last Judgment. (2) The plays in the second group are those which still retain, in spite of a later revision on the part of either York or Towneley, a similarity in underlying structure, together with isolated passages showing parallel phraseology occasionally retaining even common rhyme words: Joseph's Trouble about Mary, the Magi, the Flight into Egypt, the Massacre of the Innocents, the Incredulity of Thomas, the Creation group, the Prophetic Prologue to the Annunciation, the Shepherds, John the Baptist, Lazarus, the Conspiracy, the Last Supper, the Agony and Betrayal, the Crucifixion and Burial, the Appearance' of Jesus to Mary Magdalene, the Peregrini. (3) The plays in the third group are those which show a similarity in underlying structure, together with isolated passages showing parallel phraseology but without the retention of common rhyme words :^ Noah and the Flood, the Annunciation, the Visit to Elizabeth, the Examination before Caiaphas, the Ascension. (4) The plays in the fourth group are those which show a similarity in underlying structure, but are unaccompanied by passages showing signifi- cant or extensive similarities in phraseology: Cain and Abel, Abraham and Isaac, the Condemnation. (5) The play in the so-called fifth group is the only corresponding play in the two cycles which reveals little similarity in structiu-al outline and no agreement in phraseology, namely, the Purification. (6) The plays in the sixth group are those which are included in but one of the cycles; (a) plays in Towneley but not in York are: Isaac, Jacob, the Prophetae, Octavian, the Hanging of JudCis, the Talents; (b) plays in York but not in Towneley are: the Temptation and the Fall (in part), Expulsion from Paradise, the Nativity, the Temptation, the Transfiguration, the Woman Taken in Adidtery, the Entry into Jerusalem, Peter's Denial, the First Trial before Pilate and Pilate's Wife's Dream, the Trial before Herod, the Descent of the Holy Ghost, the Death of Mary, the Appearance of Our Lady to Thomas, the Assumption and Coronation of Our Virgin. First Group of Plays In the first group, we have the plays which, in their extant versions, are still practically identical. In spite of independent revisions through which other plays passed after the separation of the two cycles, these plays retain practically their parent cycle form. They may, therefore, ' In isolated cases, a single rhyme word is often retained. 54 MARIE C. LYLE be considered direct evidence of the original identity of the two cycles. The minor differences^ do not affect the question; they indicate merely slight changes introduced after York and Towneley became independent cj-cles. Second Group of Plays In the second group, we have the plays which show a similarity in structural outline and a verbal agreement in isolated passages with the retention of man\^ common rhymes. Later metrical forms, elaboration of details or expansion of phraseology indicate that the play in either York or Towneley, as the case may be, underwent revision. In some cases, the corresponding play in the other cycle maj^ approximately represent the parent play itself. Joseph's Trouble about Mary The play of Joseph's Trouble receives greater elaboration in York and Towneley than in any of the other English cycles. Only York and Townele}'' include the story of Joseph's marriage^ and the testimony of the puellae as to Mary's chastity. Close similarities in structural outlines and extensive parallels in phrase- ologyi° exist in the York and Towneley plays : (1) Joseph marvels at Mary's condition. Compare T 11. 155-60 to Y 11. 43-60. Note especially the retention of one common rhyme word, wroght, and the close paral- lelism of the following lines: My wyfe . . . is grete and she with My 5onge wiffe is with childe full grete. child. what has she wroght? How JdIs l)ing may be wroght, Therfor myin is it noght. Jje childe certis is noght myne. (2) Joseph, old and weak, bemoans having married so young a woman. Compare T 11. 161-70 and Y 11. 5-23, 195-97. Note especially the retention of the common rhyme words, elde, vnwelde, wyfe, banne. (3) Joseph, believing himself beguiled, decides to question Mary. Compare T 11. 172-73 and Y 11. 42-43, 65; also T 11. 177-78 and Y 11. 71-74. som othere has she tane, I am begiled; how, wate I no5t. she is with chyld, I wote neuer how. My 5onge wiffe is with childe . . . And why ne walde som yonge man ta her. Bot now then wyll I weynd hyr to. Of my wendyng wil I nowe warne, And wytt who owe that foode. Neuere Ipe lees it is myne entente To aske hir who gate hir l^at barne, 3itt wolde I wide fayne or I wente. • These differences have already been presented in detail by Herttrich, op. cit., Hohlfeld, op. cit. Anglia 11:219 ff.. Pollard, op. cit. intro. xv ff. • In the Hegge plays, the story of Joseph's marriage occurs in Play X, Mary's Betroihment. >" Mr. Hemingway (Study of the English Nativity Plays, intro. xliii) considers that the verbal simi- larities noted by Professor Hohlfeld (op. cit. Anglia 11:290) are not significant since they are paralleled in the other cycles, but many agreements not hitherto noticed are presented below, and many of these do not occur in the other cycles. THE YORK AND TOWNELEY CYCLES 55 (4) Joseph greets Mary and reproaches her. Compare T 11. 179-80 and Y 11. 75, 92. hayll, mary, and well ye be! •why, bot woman, what chere with the? (5) Joseph questions Mary about the child. Compare T 11. 186-96 and Y 11. 103, 158-59, 167-68, 177-78, 188-89, 199-200. All haylet God be here-inne! (Puellae scene interpolated.) Gramercy, Marie, sale what chere. Whos is that chyld Sir, Goddis and youres She is with childe, Whos is't Marie? Sir, Goddis and youres (6) IMary protests her innocence. Compare T 11. 203-6 and Y 11. 215-16, with the retention of the rhyme word, filid. ffor fleshly was I neuer fylyd With synne was I neuer filid (7) Joseph's incredulity. Compare T 11. 197-202 and Y 11. 169-76, with the re- tention of the rhyme word, spill; also T 11. 167-69 and Y 11. 195-97, with the common rhyme word, gane. The gams fro me ar gane J)ase games fra me are gane (8) Joseph tells the story of his marriage, which he now regrets. Compare T 11. 245-50 and Y 11. 25-30, with the retention of three rhyme words, wand, hande, ment; also T 11. 255-61 and Y 11. 32-34; T 11. 161-63 and Y 11. 35-36, 21-23, with the retention of one rhyme word, banne. Thay gaf ich man a white wand. And bad vs bere them in oure hande. To ofire with good intent; Thay ofTerd thare yerdys vp in tyde, I wyst not what thay ment. In my hand it f lory shed with blome; Then sayde thay all to me. That the behovys wed mary the may. That euer I wed so yong a wyfe, That bargan may I ban. For {)are-in was ordande Vn-wedded men sulde stande, Al 'sembled at asent; And ilke ane a drye wande On heght helde in his hand, And I ne wist what it meiit. lit florisshed faire, and floures on sprede. And they saide to me forthy Jjat with a wiffe I sulde be wedde. For bittirly |)an may I banne Itt was to me a bad barganne. (9) The testimony of the puellae as to Mary's innocence. Compare T 11. 284- 92 and Y 11. 108-27, with the retention of two rhyme words, wight, night. Joseph re- fuses to accept their excuses, claiming that Mary's visitor was a man in the likeness of an angel. Compare T 11. 208-14, 294-98 and Y 11. 162-66, 135-37, with the reten- tion of one rhyme word, can. I askyd ther women who that had Say, maidens, how es t»is? done. And thay me sayde an angell sone, syn that I went from hame; An angell spake with that wyght. And no man els, bi day nor nyght, Thay excusyd hir thus sothly. To make hir clene of hir foly. For trulye her come neuer noman, Of this swete wight. And was neuere fro hir day nor nyght, Na, here come noman in . . . Saue an Angell. (10) Joseph goes to the wilderness. Compare T 11. 321-22 and Y 11. 239-40. (11) The angel appears to Joseph in his sleep and tells him to return home; that Mary's son is conceived of the Holy Ghost. Compare T 11. 333-34 and Y 11. 267-68, with the retention of one rhyme word, gast. She hase consauyd the holy gast. Itt is consayued of pe haly gast. 56 MARIE C. LYLE (12) Repenting, Joseph praises God and asks Mary's forgiveness. Compare T II. 347-51 and Y 11. 2S9-93. ffor thy to hir now wyll I weynde, Me bus pray hir halde me excused, Saie, Marie iviffe, how fares Jdou? A, tnary, wyfe, what chere? pe bettir, sir for 3^hou. The better, sir, that ye ar here. Why stande yhe t>are? come nere. (13) Joseph feels "light." Compare T 1. 368 and Y 1. 286. Professor Hohlfeld's" conclusion that the Towneley play represents a general imitation of the York version with a borrowing of isolated passages is not borne out by a comparison of (1) the metrical situation, (2) the verbal expansion of certain passages in the York play, or (3) the treatment of certain incidents. (1) The York strophe, rhyming ababccbccb, is a later modification of the simple rime couee in which the Towneley play is composed. (2) In order to meet the exigencies of a more complicated rhyme scheme, it is apparent that certain York strophes expanded the simpler rime couee stanzas of the Towneley play. Compare especially T 11. 155-60 and Y 11. 43-60; T 11. 161-70 and Y 11. 5-24; T 11. 173-74 and Y 11. 42-65; Til. 177-78 and Y 11. 71-74; Til. 179-80 and Y 11. 75-92; T 11. 284-93 and Y 11. 108-27; T 11. 349-51 and Y 11. 291-94. (3) The York Joseph refuses to be pacified so easily as does the Towneley Joseph by Mary's explanation of her condition. He asks for the parentage of her child no less than six dififerent times, whereas the Towneley Joseph asks but three times. This expansion may be due, in part, to the dramatic presentation of the piiellae in York as against the narrative presentation in Towneley. Perhaps, Burton's failure to mention the puellae in the description of the play in the 1415 list'^ indicates that, as speaking characters, they were not originally present in the York pla}'. These instances indicate an elaboration by York of the simpler Towne- le}^ play, and therefore, the Towneley play is not to be regained as "an adaptation of an earlier York play," as Professor Gayley^^ suggests, but as the earlier play itself, or the play nearer the parent-cj^'cle version than the extant York play. The parallels with true-Coventry,^* sometimes corresponding to the extant York play and at other times to the extant Townelej^ play, may be explained by assuming that the true-Coventry play came into contact either with the parent play itself or with a subsequent revision of it. The Magi In York, the incidents of the Magi or the Coming of the Three Kings and Their Oblation are divided into two separate plaA^s, whereas they are included in a single play in Towneley. Numerous similarities in structural outlines and phraseology exist : " Hohlfeld, op. cit. Anglia 11:290. " The description given the play in Burton's 1415 list (Smith, op. cit. intro. xx) is: Maria, Josep volens dimiltere earn, angelus eis loguens vt transeant vsque Bedlem. >» Gayley, Plays of Our Forefathers 134, n. 1. " These parallels have been pointed out by Professor Cady, op. cit. PMLA 24:438 S. THE YORK AND TOWNELEY CYCLES 57 (1) Herod, boasting of his beauty and power, orders his messenger to search the realm for miscreants. Compare Y PI. XVI, 11. 1-44 and T II. 1-66. (2) In the meeting of the three kings and their decision to ride on together, one of the kings prays God to "grant him grace of company" and declares that he will not cease to search until he has discovered the meaning of the star. Compare T 11. 91-92 and Y 11. 19-20 for verbal similarities, with the retention of one rhyme word, companye; also T 11. 98-99 and Y 11. 22-24, with the retention of two rhyme words, mene, scJiene; also T 11. 145-48 and 157 and Y 11. 37-40; also Y 11. 53-54 and T 11. 163-64 with the retention of one rhyme word, fere. Also I pray the specyally, God graunte me happe so bat I myght Thou graunt me grace of company. Haue grace to gete goode companye. To wyt what this starne may mene, With thy sterne schynyng schene, That has me led, with bemys schene, For certis, I sail noght cease, Tille I witte what it mene. lordyngs, . . . ._ Sirs, with j^oure wille, / wolde yow I pray you tell me with good chere praye wheder ye weynd, on this manere, To telle me some of youre entent, And where that ye haue bene; Whedir ye wende forthe in this waye. Good sir, what cuntre cam ye fra? And fro what contre 5e are wente. Noiv, syrs, syn we ar semled here. Sir, of felashippe are we fayne, I rede we ryde togeder, in fere. Now sail we wende forth all in feere. (3) The messenger, returning to court, is reproached for his long absence. Herod's wrath is turned away from him, however, as soon as he learns of the meeting of the three kings, who, guided only by a star, are in search of a new-born child. See T 11. 259-89 and Y 11. 73-96. (4) Herod inquires into the reasons for the journey and concludes that the three kings must, indeed, be mad. Compare T 11. 385-86 and Y 11. 106-8 for verbal similari- ties, with the retention of two rhyme words, beforne, borne; also T 11. 292-94 and Y II. 110-13, with the retention of two rhyme words, lad, mad. lord, when that starne rose vs beforne, A sterne stod vs byforne, Ther by we knew that chyld was borne. That makis vs speke and spir Of ane J)at is nowe borne. And certis, unwitty men 56 werre That new borne lad. To lepe ouere lande to late a ladde. When thare wytt in a sterne shuld be, Say when lost 3e hym? ought lange before? I hold thaym mad. All wyse men will wene se madde. (5) The prophecies are cited. The verbal similarities in the Balaam and Isaiah passages are close. Compare especially T U. 205-6 and Y 11. 156-60, with the reten- tion of the two rhyme words, thyng and sprynge. Certan, balaam spekys of this thj'ng, For Balaham saide a starne shulde spring That of lacob a starne shall spryng. Of Jacobe kynde, and t'at is Jewes. Compare also T U. 417-25 and Y 11. 161-65, with the retention of the following words: Isaia, mayden, shall, bere, Emanucll. (6) On the pretext of wishing to pay reverence to the child, Herod allows the three kings to pass on, but bids them come again on their way back. Compare T II. 483-88 and Y 11. 197-99 for verbal similarities, with the retention of one rhyme word, , tythyng {tythande in Y). Bot com agane with me to leynd, ' And comes agayne Jjan me vntill, If it be sothe, this new tythyng. And telle me trulye youre tythande, Som worship wold I do that kyng. To worshippe hym J'at is my will. 58 MARIE C. LYLE (7) The guiding star disappears from sight and the three kings kneel in prayer begging its return. Upon its reappearance, it stands still above their destination. Compare T 11. 506-8 and Y 11. 221-24 for verbal similarities. (8) The three kings make their respective offerings. Compare Balthazar's speech, especially, for verbal similarities, T 11. 555-58 and Y 11. 284-88, with the re- tention of one rhyme word, shalbe. Compare also T 11. 541-42 and Y 1. 277. In tokyn that thou dede shalbe, To thy grauyng this myr of me Resaue the tyll. hayll be thou, That boytt of all oure bayll may bryng. But whan thy dedys at done to dye is t)i dette. And sen thy body beryed shalbe, This mirre will I giffe to pi grauyng. Ressauye it Hayll! barne Jjat is best oure baylys to bete. (9) Mary tells of the miraculous birth of her son and gives the three kings her blessings. (10) Because of weariness, the three kings lie down. An angel appears to them in their sleep and bids them return home another way. This passage is verbally and metrically identical in both plays. Compare T 11. 595-606 and Y 11. 313-24. Syr curtes kyngys, to me take tent. And turne by tyme or ye be tenyd; from god his self thus am I sent To warne you, as youre faythfull freynd, how herode kyng has malyce ment, And shapys with shame you for to sheynd; And so that ye no harmes hent. By othere ways god wyll ye weynd Into youre awne cujitre; And if ye ask hym boyn, for this dede that ye haue done, youre beyld ay wyll he be. Nowe curtayse kynges, to me take tent, And turne betyme or ^e be tenyd, Fro God hym selfe pus am I sent To warne yow, als youre faithfull frende, Herowde the kyng has malise ment. And shapis with shame yow for to shende. And for pat ^e non harmes shulde hente, Be othir waies God will ye wende Euen to youre awne contre. And yf ^e aske hym bone, Youre beelde ay will he be, For pis pat pe haue done. (11) The kings, in gratitude, thank God. Compare T 11. 614-16 and Y 11. 325-28 for verbal similarities, wTth the retention of one rhyme word, thre. with hart enterely thank I the. That thyn angell sent tyll vs thre. And kend vs so. A! lorde, I loue \)e inwardly. Sirs, God has gudly warned vs thre, His Aungell her now herde haue I, And how he saide. (12) The kings separate and each goes his own way. The following differences may be explained by assuming that the Towneley play, composed in the "Burns" measure, a metre of the parent cycle,^^ represents the earlier version and the two York plays later revisions :^^ (1) In conforming to the exigencies of the rhyme scheme of the Northern Sep- tenar stanza, extra lines were apparently inserted by York, (a) Compare Y 11. 22-24 and T 11. 98-99. i» See above, ch. Ill, 50 ff. "The similarities with true-Coventry, as pointed out by Professor Cady {op. cit. PMLA 24:446 ff.) may be explained, as in the case of Joseph's Trouble (see above, p. 56), by assuming that true-Coventry came into contact with the parent play or a subsequent revision of it. THE YORK AND TOWNELEY CYCLES 59 With thy Sterne schynyng schene, To wyt what this starne may mene, For certis, I sail noght cesse, That has me led, with bemys shene Tille I witte what it mene. (b) Compare Y 11. 106-8 and T 11. 385-86. A Sterne stud vs byforne, lord, when that starne rose vs beforne. That makis vs speke and spir Ther by we knew that chyld was borne. Of ane J)at is nowe borne. (2) In his revision, the York playwright, apparently, made numerous changes in subject-matter. In some cases, he added new material; in other cases, he omitted certain minor details, and in one or two instances even changed the fundamental outline of the plot. Such changes, however, are of slight importance and may be ascribed, for the most part, to one of two principles, either a desire for scriptural accuracy or an attempt at a more realistic portrayal of the incidents. The additions in the two York plays do not affect the main outlines of the plot; they are merely minor elaborations of essential details common to both cycles. (a) The York play adds a new character in the person of Herod's son, who appears in connection with the boasting of the soldiers. Herod sings their praises to his youthful son, who, in turn, boasts that he, too, will kill "bad fellows." (b) When the messenger tells Herod that the three kings are about to arrive at court, Herod, evidently to inspire in them a feeling of awe, arrays himself richly. This is undoubtedly an attempt at a more realistic portrayal. (c) The three York kings, in addition to the prophecies quoted, add that Jesus will be king of Judea and indeed king over all people. Perhaps this is an attempt at scriptural accuracy, since the same answer is given in Matthew^'' and the Apocryphal Gospel of James.^^ (d) Herod's anger is more pronounced in York than in Towneley. (e) Herod's invitation to the three kings to return again that way is preceded by the advice of his counsellors bidding him not act deceitfully. After the departure of the kings, Herod rejoices over the trap prepared for them. These elaborations are lacking in Towneley. (f) An additional character is seen in the maid of the York play, who stands at the door of the stable and bids the kings enter. This is an evident attempt at a more realistic presentation. The omissions are, for the most part, in line with the simpler scriptural account and do not materially affect the framework of the play. (a) The York Herod does not impose upon his subjects the worship of Mahomet as does the Towneley Herod. (b) The three kings in the York play do not go into so much detail in giving the information concerning their names, realms, and purpose in coming, as do the Towne- ley kings. (c) York omits the recalling of Balaam's prophecy at the time of the meeting of the kings and transfers it to the questioning by Herod. (d) The York kings do not discuss the significance of their gifts when they first meet, or the possible influence of astronomy upon the appearance of the guiding star. (e) The adieux of the Towneley kings are long and elaborate, whereas the fare- well speeches of the York kings are short. Differences are seen in the following instances. Since, however, they are merely minor details with which two of the chief incidents are elaborated, they do not affect the main development of the play. 1' Gospel of Matthew ch. II, 1-12. ^* Apocryphal Gospel of James ch. XXI, in Cowper, Apocryphal Gospels. 60 MARIE C. LYLE (a) The three kings appear before Herod, not at the messenger's command as in Townelcy, but of their own free-will, thinking that perhaps Herod can aid them in finding the child. (b) The prophecies are quoted to Herod by the three kings, instead of by the counsellors from their learned books, as in Towneley. Apparently, this is an attempt at scriptural accuracy, since in the Apocryphal Gospel of James, Herod examines the magi concerning the meaning of the star.^^ It thus seems probable that the single play which is noted by Burton in his 1415 list^" refers to the play now extant in the Towneley cycle, and that the two plays, which are entered in the second Burton list^^ and referred to in a 1431 record of the Goldsmiths,^^ refer to the two pla^^s now extant in the York cycle. It may still be asked how the Towneley play came to include the single Northern Septenar strophe in which the angel makes his appearance and gives the warning to the sleeping kings. According to Professor Hohl- feld's supposition,^^ it was incorporated by the Towneley playwright who wrote in general imitation of the York play. Since the separation of the two cycles apparently took place while certain plays of the parent cycle were being rewritten in the Northern Septenar metre, ^^ it may be that the isolated Northern Septenar strophe represents an instance in which a single lyrical passage was turned into the newer and more attractive metre before the separation. The Flight into Egypt The Flight into Egypt is closely connected with the Massacre and is usually included as one of its incidents. York and Towneley alone agree in developing it into a separate pla^?- and making it precede the Massacre?'" Close similarities in structural outlines and phraseology exist : (1) An angel awakens Joseph w'ho wonders at its sweet voice. Compare T 11. 1-13 and Y 11. 37-42. Awake, Joseph, and take intentl Wakyn, Joseph! and take entente! Thou ryse, and sleep nomare! My sawes schall seece thy sorowe sare, flor thou shall no harmes hent, Be noght heuy, Jai happe is hentte, And rew it wonder sare. ]3are-fore I bidde Jae slepe no mare. A! myghtfull god. A! myghtfull lorde, ivhat euere |3at What euer this ment, mente? so swete of toyn? So swete a voyce herde I neuere ayre. !• Cowper, loc. cil. »° See Burton's 1415 list in Smith, op. cil. intro. xxi. " See Davies, Municipal Records of the City of York app. 233. «'See Sellers, York Memorandum Book, Surlees Society 125: 123-24; see also intro. xlix. "Hohlfeld, op. cit. Anglia 11:293. ** See above, ch. II, p. 46. M The same situation is seen in the Beverley list. See Beverley Records, Selden Society; Fiirnivall Miscellany 218; Chambers, op. cil. 2:340. THE YORK AND TOWNELEY CYCLES 61 (2) The angel bids him not fear; that he is an angel sent to warn him against Herod. Compare T 11. 40, 14-28 and Y 11. 48-62. Ther of haue thou no drede; lo loseph, it is I, An angel send to the. hens behufys the hj', And take with the mary, ffor herode dos to dy All knaue chyldren, securly, within two yere that be Of eld, Where may we heyld? Tyll egypp shall thou fare, with all the myght thou may, Joseph, haue pou no drede, For I am sente to pe, Gabriell, goddis aungell bright, Is comen to bidde ]De flee With Marie and hir worthy wight ; For Herowde |3e kyng gars doo to dede All knave childer in ilke a stede. With )eris twa Ipat are of olde In Egipte shall se beelde, Tille I witte J)e for to saie. (3) Joseph, grieving for Mary, tells her that they must flee. Compare T 11. 55-8, 62 and Y 11. 84-6, 90. Note especially the following verbal similarities, with the re- tention of two common rhyme words. Mary, my darlyng. A! leyf loseph, what chere? ffor-thi behofes us fie. Mary, my doughter. A! leyf Joseph, what chere? Ther is noght ellis but us most flee. (4) Mary can not understand the reason for the flight. Joseph tells her of the angel's message, and she laughs and trembles in her fear. Compare T 11. 79-85 and Y 11. 103-7. Note especially the retention of two rhyme words, care and dare, and the verbal similarity in the line, / lurk and dare (T 1. 83), and / durk, I dare (Y 1. 105). (5) It is difficult for Mary to understand wh}^ she should be deprived of her son. Compare T 11. 79-88 and Y 11. 137-43; 67-9; 156-58, with the retention of five rhyme words, sare, ill, spill, care, bare. (6) Joseph begs Mary to be quiet, saying that they must pack their "gere" immediately. Compare T 11. 114-16; 161; 41 and Y 11. 147-50, with the retention of the three rhyme words, be, dynne, wynne and the similar phrases. We! leue Marie . . . lat be; leue of thy dynne (Y) and let be thy dyn (T); also T 11. 120-21 and Y 11. 159-60, with the retention of the common rhyme word, gere, and the common use of the fol- lowing words, tytt, pak and oure. (7) Mary complains about carrjdng the child. Compare T 11. 129-30; 133 and Y 11. 162-64, with the retention of the one rhyme word, bere, and the common use of the words, God wote. Certain York passages appear to be verbal expansions of simpler Towne- ley passages: A! myghtfull god. What euer this ment, so swete of toyn? (T 11. 11-13) A! myghtfull lorde, what euere |3at mente? So swete a voyce herde I neure aj^re. But what arte ^ou with steuen so shylle, J)us in my slepe Jsat spekis me till, To me appere, And late me here What l3at tiou was? (Y 11. 41-47) (1) The lines of the following Townele}^ passage have been split into separate parts by the York playwright at different points in the presentation: 62 MARIE C. LYLE My son? alas, for care! who may my dollys dyll? wo \vorth fals herode are ! my son why shuld he spyll? Alas! I lurk and dare! To slo this barne I bare, what wight in warld had wyll? his hart shuld be full sare Sichon for to fare, That neuer yit dyd yll, Ne thoght. (T 11. 79-91) His foo, alias! what is youre reede, Wha wolde my dere barne do to dede? I durk, I dare, Whoo may my care Of balls blynne? (Y 11. 103-7) Alias! why schulde I tharne My sone his lifle so sweete, His harte aught to be ful sare, On slike a foode hym to forfare, Jjat nevir did ill Him for to spille. And he ne wate why. (Y 11 137- 43) Alias ! what ayles hym for to spille Smale songe barnes ^at neuere did ille In worde ne dede. (York 11. 67-69) Alas! Joseph, for care! Why shuld I forgo hym, My dere barne l^at I bare. (Y 11. 156-58) (2) The following York passage shows an expansion in the phraseology of the simpler Towneley passage: We! leue Marie, do way, late be, I pray \)e, leue of thy dynne. And fande |De furthe for to flee Away with hyme for to wynne. (Y 11. 147-50) ffor-thi let be thi dyn And cry. how shall we theder wyn? (T 11. 114- 16) (3) In his command to Mary to make ready their "gere," the York Joseph mentions the articles which he must carry, whereas no mention is made of them in the Towneley play. Ther is noght els to say bot tytt pak vp oure gere. 120-21) (Til. J)at swete swayne yf t)Ou saue, Do tyte, pakke same oure gere. And such smale harnes as we haue. Bot god it wote I muste care for all. For bed and bak, And all \)e pakke J)at nedis vnto vs, It forthers to fene me J)is pakald bere me bus, Of all I plege and pleyne me. (Y 11. 159-70) Accordingly, the Towneley play is not to be regarded as an imitation^^ or adaptation" of an earlier York play, but as the earlier play itself, of which the York play represents a later revision. Thus, the revision easily explains the difference in the conception of Joseph's character in the two plays. Joseph in the York play is not, as Professor Cady states.^^ entirely different in character from Joseph in the Towneley play; he is not "all sympathy and patience with Mary": (1) At the beginning of the play, Joseph, weak and weary, bitterly bemoans his fate. "Hohlfeld. op. oil. Anglia 11:293. *' Gayley, Plays of Our Forefathers 134, n. 1. »• Cady, op. cit. PMLA 24:449 ff. THE YORK AND TOWNELEY CYCLES 63 (2) In strophe eleven, he complains about making the trip: And sertis I dred me sore To make my smale trippe, Or tyme t)at I come |)are. (3) A certain degree of ill-temper and impatience with Mary appears to be present in the abruptness of the answers vouchsafed by Joseph in strophes 14 and IS. Mary asks where they are going; Joseph replies that he has told her long before: "To Egipte tald I ]pe lang are." Mary wishes to know where it is, and we can imagine that his reply, "what wate I?" was given impatiently. (4) In the last strophe, Joseph thanks God for granting him the grace of being strong again, whereas he was so weak before. Fundamentally, then, the characters of the two Josephs are conceived in the same vein: both are old and weak; both dread the journey and make it unwillingly; both "take it out" on their wives. The denunciations of the one, it is true, are much more bitter than those of the other, but this may be due to the differing conceptions of the two playwrights,^^ and offers no real objection to the view that the plays were originally identical. The York situation may simply be a part of that general movement, already noted in the Northern Septenar plays,^" which sought to give a more scriptural and reverential tone. In accordance with this view, the York playwright would naturally soften the bitter complaints of the Joseph in the parent play, perhaps now represented by Towneley. Massacre of the Innocents The similarities existing between the York and Towneley plays of the Massacre occur not only in structural outlines, as pointed out by Professors Hohlfeld^^ and Cady,^' but also in the selection and arrangement of many details and in verbal agreement in isolated passages. In plot development, there is but one fundamental difference, that of Herod's attitude when he learns the result of the slaughter. In York, he is angry because of Jesus' escape, but in Towneley, believing that the child has been slain, he rejoices and rewards the soldiers. Except for this dift'erence, the Wakefield author merely elaborates or makes slight additions to incidents presented in less detail in the York play -p Scene I, the opening scene of vaunting. (1) The Wakefield author makes the messenger, singing Herod's praises, precede his entrance. The messenger, however, merely repeats or amplifies what the York -^ The same situation is seen in the York and Towneley plays of the Conspiracy, where there is a divergent development of Pilate's character. (See below, p. 78.) In this case, no one questions the probability that the Towneley play represents an earlier York version, which according to my theory formed a part of the parent cycle. 30 See above, ch. II, p. 44 flf. " Hohlfeld, op. cit. Anglia 11:293. '2 Cady, op. cit. PMLA 24:451. MSee Mrs. Frank, op. cit. Mod. Phil. 15:181 ff. 64 MARIE C. LYLE Herod says in his opening speech. Each one calls for silence and "bowing at his bidding." Note especially T 11. 10-16 and Y 11. 6-16 for verbal similarities, with the retention of five rhyme words, mahowne, towne, bowne, bydyng, lewte. Herode, the heynd kyng/ by grace of mahowne, Of lury, lowrmontyng/ sternly with crowne, On lyfe that ar lyfyng/ ijt towre and in towne, Gracyus you gretyng/ commaundys you be bowne At his bydyng; luf hym with lewte, drede hym, that doughty! 56 aught to dare and doute, And lere you lowe to lowte To me youre louely lorde. 56 awe in felde and towne To bowe at my bidding, With reuerence and renoune As fallis for swilk a kyng Jdc lordlyest on-lyue Who her-to is noght bowne, Be all-myghty mahounde To dede I schall hym dryue! (2) The Towneley Herod, not content with the York Herod's assertion that he is lord of every land, gives a long list of the lands over which Herod holds dominion. (3) The Towneley Herod, as in the York version, calls for silence, and speaking of his anxiety concerning the three kings, asks for tidings, and is told by the messen- ger of their departure. Compare T 11. 145-47 and Y 11. 100-2 for verbal similarities with the retention of the two rhyme words, past, fast. Lord, thynk not ill if I/tell you how thay ar past; An othere way in hy/ thay soght, and that full fast. I sale for thay are past. 3a, lord, in faitht ful faste. Compare also T 11. 26-29 and Y 11. 41-45 for slight reminiscences in phraseology. (4) Herod, thereupon, vents his rage upon the messenger. This scene has been elaborated by the Wakefield author, but there can still be traced an identity in certain words. Compare especially T 11. 150, 163-64 and Y 11. 106, 119, 125. ffy on the dewill! where may I byde? A! dogges, J)e deuell J)ou spede. ffy, losels and lyars! lurdans ilkone! Tratoures and well wars! .... Fy, on J)e ladde, J)ou lyes! Thou lyes! false traytoure strange. (5) Towneley elaborates the boasting of the knights as to what they would have done, had they met the three kings. Scene II, the advice of the counsellors. (1) Herod calls his council. In Towneley, the Wakefield author adds Herod's command to have his clerks search through Virgil, Homer, and everywhere else, save in legends, also in Boece and other tales, but not in service books, for "this talk of a maiden and a child." The quoting of certain prophecies at this point and Herod's rage because of the information given by them, are also additions. (2) With the counsellor's suggestion that all knave children under two years of age be killed, the similarity between the two plays is resumed. Compare T 11. 254-56 and Y 11. 149-54 for verbal similarities, with the retention of the two rhyme words, dede, stede, and the use of the common phrases, all knaue chyldren, ilk a (othere in T) stede, knyghtys. . .hiddis (ordeyn in T),thrtig outtbedlam {in Bedlem and all aboute in Y). (3) Herod, in gratitude, pledges his friendship. Compare T 1. 324, ye shall fynd me freyndly, and Y 1. 165, ^e shall fynde me youre frende. The incident is elab- orated in Towneley by Herod's rewarding the counsellor with a gift of land and castles and with the promise of making him pope some day. THE YORK AND TOWNELEY CYCLES 65 Scene III, the command t9 kill the children. (1) The calling of the soldiers and their appearance in their best apparel is an elaboration by the Wakefield author. Especially significant is the actual command given the soldiers, which, fundamental to the plot development of both plays, occurs in similar phraseology. Compare T 11. 307-10 and Y 11. 149-54, with the retention of the two rhyme words, aboute, clowte. To bedlem loke ye go/ And all the coste Gars gadir in grete rowte aboute, Youre knyghtis kene be-lyue. All knaue chyldren ye slo/ and lordys, And biddis ^am dynge to dede ye shalbe stoute; All knaue childir kepte in clowte. Of yeres if they be two/ and within, In Bedlem and all aboute, of all that rowte To layte in ilke a stede. On lyfe lyefe none of tho/ that lygys in swedyll clowte. The willing acquiescence of the soldiers is another similarity to note. Scene IV, the killing of the children. (1) In York, two children are seized simultaneously and killed. In Towneley, three children are seized and killed, but a separate incident is made for each child. The details of the slaughter, however, are unvaried in their repetition, following almost exactly the order of incidents portrayed in the single slaughter scene of the two children in York. The seizure of the children by the soldiers occurs first, followed immediately by the cries of the mothers, the killing of the children, the lamentations of the mothers (each of these incidents is repeated for both the second and third child in Towneley), then the attacking of the soldiers by the infuriated mothers, and the soldiers' threat to tell Herod of the attack. Scene V, the soldiers' report to Herod upon the results of the slaughter. The different development, in the two cycles, of the fifth scene,^^ as well as the other differences noted above, may be explained by assuming that the Towneley play, composed in the characteristic metre of the Wakefield author, represents an expanded revision of the parent play, now extant presumably in York.^= The Incredulity of Thomas The Incredulity of Thomas is closely connected with the Peregrini and is usually included as one of its incidents, but York and Towneley differ from the other English cycles by developing it into a separate play. Simi- larities exist not only in structural outlines, as called attention to by Pro- fessor Cady,^^ but also in the use of minor details and parallel phraseology in isolated passages : (1) The assembled disciples mourn Jesus' crucifixion. (2) Jesus appears, but vanishes immediately. '* See above, p. 63. '5 Even the true-Coventry play, believed to have the same liturgical source as the York and Towneley plays (Cady, op. cit. PMLA 24:451 f.) differs from the outline followed by them: (1) the preliminary scene of Herod's vaunting is not given; (2) Herod calls no council, but suggests the slaughter himself; (3) the soldiers remonstrate against the brutal order; (4) the lullabies of the mothers are added; (5) Herod, hearing of the flight, starts out in pursuit. »• Cady, op. cit. PMLA 24:464 ff. 66 MARIE C. LYLE (3) Jesus reappears, tells the disciples not to fear him, but to feel his flesh and bones, so that they may be convinced that he is not a spirit. Compare T 1. 96 and Y 11. 31-32 for verbal similarities, also T 11. 94-99 and Y 11. 46-48, 55-60, with the retention of five rhyme words, se, tre, gone, bone, none, and other similar phrases. peasse emangys you ever ichon! it is I, drede you noght. Thou grauntt vs for to se The self body and the same/ the which that died on tre. That was wonte with you to gone/ and dere with dede you boght. Grope and fele flesh and bone/ Sich thyng has goost none/ Pees vnto yowe euermore myght be, Drede you no^t, for I am hee. her may 3e see pe same body Jiat has you bought vppow a tre. For yowe Jjusgatis Jjanne haue I gone, Folous me grathely euerilkone, And se Jjat I have flessh and bone, Gropes me nowe. For so ne has sperite none. (4) Jesus tells the disciples to look at his wounds. Compare T 11. 100-3 and Y 11. 49-54, with the retention of two rhyme words, meet and feet. My rysyng fro dede to lyfe/ shall no man agane moytt; Behold my woundes fyfe/ thurgh handys, syde, and foytt. J)at I am comen 30U here to mete, Behald and se myn handis and feete, And grathly gropes my woundes wete. (5) Jesus calls for meat and is brought honeycomb and fish. Blessing them, he bids the disciples eat with him. (6) Jesus tells of his crucifixion. (7) Jesus gives the disciples the power to bind and loose. Compare T 11. 148-51 and Y 11. 89-96, with the retention of three rhyme words, me, pauste, be, and the use of other similar phrases. The grace of the holy gost to wyn/ resaue here at me; The which shall neuer blyn/ / gif you here pauste; whom in erth ye lowse of syn/ in heuen lowsyd shall be. And whom in erthe ye bynd therin/ In heuen bonden be he. And vnto 30U pe holy goste Releffe yaw here. Beis now trewe and trowes in me. And here I graunte youe in youre poste, Whome |)at ^e bynde bounden schall be And whome l^at ^e lesid losed schalbe Euer more in heuene. (8) Thomas, mourning outside the chamber door, recalls the pains suffered by Jesus. (9) Thomas enters the chamber where the disciples are assembled, and Peter tells him that they have seen Jesus. (10) Thomas is incredulous, but the disciples insist that Jesus rose the third day and that he showed them his wounds. Compare T 11. 188-90 and Y 11. 139-41, with the retention of two rhyme words, lyue and fyue, and the use of the common phrase, his woundes fyue. Thomas believes that they were deluded by a spirit, but the disciples declare that no ghost could possess the flesh and bones which they actually felt. Compare T 11. 220-22 and Y 11. 151-56, with the retention of two rhyme words, bone and none, and the use of similar phrases. Thomas, vnto the anone/ herto answere I will; Man has both flesh and hone/ hu, hyde, and hore thertill; sich thyng has goost none/ thomas, lo, here thi skyll. Nay Thomas, Jiou haste misgone, For-why he bad vs euerilkon To grope hym grathely, bloode and bone A nd flessh to f eele. Such thyngis, Thomas, hase sperit none, |)at wote se wele. THE YORK AND TOWNELEY CYCLES 67 Yet again, the disciples insist that they saw and felt the wounds. Compare T 11. 276- 79 and Y 11. 163-68 for verbal similarities, with the retention of three rhyme words, seene, mene, betwene. ffor we say that we haue sene/ Are schalle I trowe no tales betwene. thou holdys vs wars then woode; Thomas, l)at wounde haue we seene. Ihesu lyfyng stod vs betwene/ i say ye wote neuer what ye mene I 3a, ^e wotte neuere what ^e mene, youre witte it wantis. Nevertheless, Thomas still doubts, saying that he will not be convinced until he, him- self, has felt the wounds. (11) Jesus appears a third time and bids Thomas feel his side. (12) Thomas beUeves and cries for mercy. Compare T 11. 316-19 and Y II. 181- 86 for verbal similarities, with the retention of three rhyme words, me, se, the. Mercy, ihesu, rew on me/ Mi lorde, my god, full wele is me, my hande is blody of thi blode! A! blode of price! blessid mote Jjou be, Mercy, ihesu, for I se/ Mankynd in erth, behold and see Mercy, ihesu, I pray the/ Mercy, nowe lorde ax I the. (13) Jesus tells Thomas that they who have not seen and yet believe are more blessed than they who have to see in order to believe. The York play, composed in a metre of the parent cycle, the "Burns" strophe, probably represents the parent play, of which the extant Towneley play is a later revision. Thus, the differences between the two plays may be explained. (1) The Towneley play not only includes all of the incidents contained in York but adds to them: (a) Peter's remorse over his denial of Jesus is added. (b) After Jesus has given the disciples the power to bind and loose, contained in both versions, the Towneley apostles express a desire for greater stabiHty of thought, and exult because of Jesus' triumph over death. (c) Additional arguments to convince Thomas are given in Towneley. (d) The Towneley Thomas makes a greater show of repentance. He even flings away his staff, hat, mantle, gay girdle, silk purse, and coat, in order that he may the sooner gain Jesus' mercy. (e) The incident at the beginning of the play, where Mary Jvlagdalene appears with the news of the Resurrection, may also be an addition, but since it occurs in the rime couee, it is more likely that it represents a part of the parent cycle, perhaps at an eariier stage than that represented by the "Burns" measure. (2) The further elaboration of the Towneley play may also be seen in the verbal expansion of certain strophes. (a) Compare Y 11. 49-50 and T 11. 100-1. l^at I am comen 30U here to mete, My rysyng fro dede to h^fe/ Behalde and se myji handis and feete. shall no man agane moytt; Behold my woundes fyfe/ thurgh handys, syde, and foytt. (b) Compare Y 11. 91-93 and T II. 148-51. 68 MARIE C. LYLE Beis now trewe and trowes in me, And here I graunte youe in youre postc, Whome ^3.1 5e bynde bounden schall be. resaue here at me; The which shall neuer blyn/ I gif you here pauste; Whom in erth ye lowse of syn/ in heuen lowsyd shall be. (c) Compare Y 11. 163-65 and T 11. 276-79. Are schalle I trowe no tales betwene. Thomas, pat wounde haue -we seene. 5a, ^e wotte neure what )e mene. ffor we say that we haue sene thou holdys vs wars then woods; Ihesu lyfyng stod vs betwene/ oure lord that with us yode. I say ye wote neuer what ye mene. The Creation Group The Fall oj the Angels. — Structural and verbal similarities exist between the York and Towneley plays of the Fall of the Angels: (1) The introduction by God. Compare especially T 11. 1, 7, 2, SandYll. 1,2,4, 8 for verbal similarities, with the retention of two rhyme words, begynnyng and endyng. Ego sum alpha et o. I am without begynnyng. Ego sum Alpha et O. vita via I am gracyus and grete, god withoutyn begynnyng. 7 am the ^r5/, the last also. 7 aw formaste and /jr^/e, . . . My godhede hath none endyng. Vne[n]dande withoutyn any endyng. (2) God decides to create heaven, earth, and the angels. Compare Til. 13-18 and Y 11. 9-19 for verbal similarities, with the retention of four rhyme words, 7ioght, will, fulfill, might. Sen I am maker vnmade, and most so of mighte, And all sail be made euen of noghte. But onely Jdc worthely warke of my wyll In my sprete sail enspyre \>e mighte of me. And in i)e fyrste, faythely, my thoghts to fulfyll. (3) Lucifer is made the chief of the angels. Compare T 11. 71-72 and Y 1. 36 for verbal similarities. All maner thyng is in my thoght, Withoutten me ther may be noght, hit shall be done after my will. that I haue thoght I shall fulfill And manteyn with my might. He may well hight lucifere, flfor lufly light that he doth bere. I name '^e for Lucifer, als bearer of lyghte. (4) The cherubim praise God for the work of creation. Compare T 11. 67-76 and Y 11. 41-44 for verbal similarities, with the retention of two rhyme words, mighte and noghte. Lord, thou art full mych of might, that has maide lucifer so bright; We lofe the, lord, with all oure thoght, that sich thyng can make of noght. A! mercyfull maker, full mekill es t)i mighte, t)at all this warke at a worde worthely has wroghte. Ay loved be pat lufly lorde of his lighte, That vs thus mighty has made, J)at nowe was righte noghte. THE YORK AND TOWNELEY CYCLES 69 (5) Lucifer boasts of his strength and beauty. Compare T 11. 83-96 and Y 11. 49-83, also Play VI, 1. 7 for verbal similarities. of me commys all this light. All the myrthe J)at es made es markide this gam and all this gle; in me, Fro thaym is loste bot)e game and glee My myrth is most of all. I am so mightyly made my mirth may noghte mys. (6) Still boasting, Lucifer seats himself on God's throne. (7) Without apparent intervention, Lucifer falls. (8) The devils cry out in terror as they fall." (9) The devils lament in hell and reproach Lucifer as the cause of their fall. These similarities, as well as certain additions and omissions made in common by York and Towneley, may be explained by assuming that the extant Towneley play represents the parent play and that the extant York play represents a later revision of it. (1) Both the York and Towneley plays provide for the creation of the earth before the fall of the angels. Although the developments of the two scenes do not resemble each other, the difference may be adequately explained by the later revision of the York play. The mention in York of the creation of earth with that of heaven seems to be a reminiscence of the detailed account of the creation of earth day by day, given at the same point in the supposed parent play, now preserved presumably in the Towneley cycle. (2) The confusion in the York play, at the point where God grants to his angels not only heaven but earth also, and this before the creation of earth, is to be regarded as an indication of its earlier position in the parent cycle, which in spite of the attempt on the part of the York playwright to conform to the correct chronology of the inci- dents, was carried over into his revision. See 11. 22-30. (3) The failure of God to appear at the time of Lucifer's defiance in order to give the command to fall is in keeping with the Genesis and Exodus account,^^ and is therefore another indication that York in its revision still made use of the parent play, preserved in Towneley. (4) The crying out of the devils as they fall assumes significance because of its absence in the other English plays. The actual crying out of the devils in the York play represents a more developed stage in dramatic technique than the stage direc- tions of the Towneley play. (5) One York passage appears to be an expansion of one of the Towneley couplets. Compare T 11. 7-8 and Y 11. 1-8. I am without begynnyng, I am gracyus and grete, god withoutyn My godhede hath none endyng. begynnyng, I am maker vnmade, all mighte es in me, I am lyfe and way vnto welth wynnyng, I am formaste and fyrste, als I bid sail it be. My blyssyng o ble sail be blendyng, And heldand fro harme to be hydande, My body in blys ay abydande Vne[n]dande withoutyn any endyng. " Merely a stage direction in Towneley, Pollard's edition, EETSES 71:5. 38 Genesis and Exodus (ed. Morris) EETS 7:12. 70 MARIE C. LYLE The Creation to the Fifth Day. — Among the English cycles, little or no elaboration of incidents is seen in the Creation to the Fifth Day. The same incidents are treated in all, and York, Towneley, and Chester agree in isolated phrases.^^ The similarity is somewhat closer in York and Towneley, however. (1) The phraseology in two passages is closer than in Chester: (1) Compare T 11. 40-41, Y 11. 30-32, Ch p. 21, where the two rhyme words, be and see, are common to York and Towneley, but do not occur in Chester. (2) Compare T 11. 52-3, Y 11. 7-8 (Play III), Ch p. 21, where one rhyme word, night, is common to York and Towneley, but not used in Chester. (2) York and Towneley mention two details not found in Chester: (1) In York and Towneley, God remarks upon the work which he has undertaken: in Towneley, he expresses his satisfaction, (1. 42) ; in York, he speaks of the difficulty of the work (1. 27). (2) In York and Towneley, God blesses his work when all is finished. See T 11. 59-60 and Y 1. 86. In my hlyssyng, wax now ye; My hlyssyng haue 5e all; This is the fyft day. the fifi day endyd es. These similarities, slight as they are, may indicate that York and Towneley were originally identical, and the agreements and disagreements with Chester may be explained by assuming that Chester came into con- tact with the parent play. Creation of Adam and Eve and Their Establishment in Paradise. — • Because of close connection in subject-matter, the Creation of Adam and Eve and their Establishment in Paradise will be considered together. Certain verbal parallels between the York and Towneley plays may be pointed out : (1) Compare T 11. 165-66 and Y PI. Ill, 11. 21-23 for verbal similarities, with the retention of the two rhyme words, liknes and less. now make we man to oure liknes. To keepe Jjis worlde bothe more and that shall be keper of more & les. lesse A skylfull beeste l^an will y make, Aftir my shappe and my likeness. (2) Compare T 11. 174-81 and Y PL IV, 11. 1-12 for verbal reminiscences, with the retention of the three rhyme words, wise, paradise, place. I gif the witt, I gif the strenght, Adam and Eve, this is the place of all thou sees, of brede & lengthe; That I haue graunte you of my grace thou shall be wonder wise. To haue your wonnyng in; Myrth and loy to haue at ivill, Erbes, spyce, frute on tree, All thi likyng to fulfill, Beastes, fewles, all that ye see, and dwell in paradise. Shall bowe to you, more and myn. This I make thi wonnyng playce, This place hight paradyce, fful of myrth and of solace. Here shall your joys begynne. And yf that ye be wyse, Frome thys tharr ye never twynne. All your wyll here shall ye haue. »• Similarities occur in TIL 31-32. Y 11. 19-20, Ch p. 20; Til. 37-39, Y 11. 27-29. Ch p. 21; T 11. 43-45, Y 11. 33-36, Ch p. 21. THE YORK AND TOWNELEY CYCLES 71 (3) Compare T 11. 198-99 and Y PL IV, 11. 83-84 for verbal similarities, with the retention of two rhyme words, wife and life. Heris thou adam, and eiie thi wife, Thys tre that beres the Fruyte of Lyfe, I forbede you the tre of life. Luke nother thowe nor Eve thy wyf. Moreover, York and Towneley repeat the command not to eat of the tree of life. This repetition is not necessary to the action, and since it does not occur in the other English plays, its presence, together with the verbal parallels, may be regarded as significant. The Temptation. — Lucifer's speech, in which he plans to betray mankind, occurring just before the gap in Towneley and at the beginning of the fifth play in York, seems to indicate a further similarity. The gap in the manu- script occurs in the midst of the speech where Lucifer states his intention of betraying man. Both Professor Hohlfeld^*^ and Mr. Pollard^^ think that this formed the beginning of the temptation, which together with the expulsion, they suggest, originally formed a part of the play. The similarities in details and phraseology between the Creation plays of the two cycles may best be accounted for by supposing that Towneley preserves the text of the parent play and that York represents later revisions of it. The difference in the order of incidents as presented in Towneley, where the Fall of the Angels is embedded in the midst of the Creation scenes, and in York, where it precedes the Creation scenes, may at first appear to contradict this assumption, but it is fully explained by the fact that Towneley gives the arrangement of earlier vernacular literature, such as the Middle English Genesis and Exodus*"^ and Comestor's Historia Scholastic a, '^^ and that the York play follows the usual order of cyclical plays. The divergence between the two cycles, therefore, becomes not an inconsistency,^^ but a logical development entirely consistent with the York practice of revising according to Scripture and chronology .^^ Moreover, Towneley represents an earlier stage in cyclical development than York, since it includes in one play and composed in two simple metres, the couplet, and the rime couee, incidents which are expanded by York into six plays, some of which are written in complicated stanzaic forms. Prophetic Prologue to the Annunciation Similarities in details and phraseology occur in the York and Towneley Prologues to the Annunciation: *o Hohlfeld, op. cit. Anglia 11:287. « Pollard, op. cit. EETSES 71:9, n. <2 Morris, loc. cit. " Comestor, Historia Scholastica, Migne Pat. xcviii. "So considered by Professor Cady, op. cit. Mod. Phil. 10:597, who concluded that the plays "were evidently added to each of these two cycles at a period when they were no longer connected." ** See above, ch. II, p. 44. 72 MARIE C. LYLE (1) Adam's fall is reviewed by an expositor. Adam, in innocence, was placed in paradise to enjoy it, but upon sinning was expelled and forced to suffer sorrow in After a long period, however, God is willing to grant him grace. Compare 1-20 and Y 11. 1-12 for verbal similarities, noting especially T 11. 7, 11, 8 and Y 11. 11, and 12. Then I hym put out of that place. And was piitte oute fro paradys. ffor he has boght his syn full sore. And sithen what sorouse sor warre hell, Til 6, 7 And sithen sene. Bot yit, I myn, I hight hym grace. Tille god graunted Jjam grace Of helpe, als he hadde hyght. (2) In order to deceive the fiend, God decides to have his Son assume manhood through a maiden of Abraham's line, thus fulfilling the promise made in olden days to Abraham. Compare T 11. 30, 35-36 and Y 11. 20-24 for verbal similarities. (3) Other prophecies besides that of Isaiah are mentioned. Some of the York prophecies are found paralleled in the Towneley cycle, not in the prologue to the Annunciation, as we should expect to find, but in the single quatrains at the beginning of the Doctor's play. Compare T 11. 1-4 and Y 11. 61-64. Compare also T 11. 9-12 and Y 11. 13-16 for verbal similarities, with the retention of two rhj^me words, neven and steuen. Masters, youre resons ar right good. And wonderfuU to neven, Yit fynde I more b}'- abacuk; Syrs, lysten a whyle vnto my steuen. Jjan is it nedfull for to neven. How prophettis all goddis counsailes kende, Als prophet Amos in his steuen, Lered whils he in his liflfe gun lende. Compare also T 11. 13-21 and Y 11. 73-9 for verbal similarities. Oure bayll, he says, shall turn to boytt, her-afterward som day; A -wande shall spryng fro lesse roytt, — The certan sothe thus can he say, — And of that wande shall spryng a floure, And therapon shall rest and lyght The holy ghost, full mych of myght. (4) Gabriel is sent to the virgin Mary. More of |)is maiden me meves [he], This prophett sais for oure socoure, A wande sail brede of Jesse boure; And of Jais same also sais hee, Vpponne pat wande sail springe a floure, Wher-on pe haly gast sail be. Compare T 11. 53-60, 76 and Y 11. 135-41 for verbal similarities, with the retention of two rhyme words, Galile and be {by in T). Ryse vp, gabriell, and weynd vnto a maydn that is heynd. To nazareth in galilee, Ther she dwellys in that cytee. To a man of dauid house, loseph also he is namyd by, 'Fro God in heuen es sent,' sais he, 'An aungell is named Gabriell To Nazareth in Galale, Where Jjan a mayden mjdde gon dwell, Jaat with Joseph suld wedded beJ Grayth the gabriell, and weynd. To god his grace laan grayd. Undoubtedly, the terse, narrative account in the Towneley couplets represents, in part, the parent play, and the Northern Septenar redaction in York^^ a later revision of it. In the Towneley Prologue, the expositor «« Hemingway (English Kalivily Plays intro. xliv) suggests a closer similarity between the Towneley Prologue and the Prologue to the Hegge play in which the Daughters of God plead the cause of man than seems apparent upon closer examination. He does not consider the parallel in the York cycle. Nor are the similarities with true-Coventry (Cady. op. cil. PMLA 24:435) as close as those between York and Towneley. THE YORK AND TOWNELEY CYCLES 73 merely mentions the names of the prophets, whereas the actual prophecies are given in York. The revision also explains the additional prophetic material in the York play and the difference in the list of prophets cited. The Shepherds Common rhymes are found in the following passages of the York, Towneley, and true-Coventry plays of the Shepherds: (1) Compare T XIII, 693-95, Y 73-75, TC 300-1 for verbal similarities, with the retention of two rhyme words, borne and morne. . . . . and prophetys A babe in Bedlem shulde be For thys same morne beforne, borne, Godis Sun ys borne Thay desyryd to haue sene Of whom Jjan spake oure In Bedlem of a meydin fre. this chylde that is borne. prophicie trewe. And bad us mete hym l^are l)is morne. (2) Compare T XIII, 665-66, Y 129-31 for verbal similarities with the retention of two rhyme words, gang and lang. To bedlem he bad that we shuld gang, God graunte vs levyng lange, I am full fard that we tary to lang. And go we hame agayne. And make mirthe as we gange. (3) Compare T XIII 659, Y 56, TC 268 for verbal similarities with the retention of the rhyme word, emong. flfor to syng vs emong. Itt menes some meruayle vs myrth and solas ys cum hus emang. among. (4) Compare T XII 341, TC 247-50 for verbal similarities with the retention of two rhyme words, told and wold. Also Isay says oure faders vs told, . . . now ys cum the tyme that old That a vyrgyn shuld pas of lesse, that fathers hath told wold Bryng furth A chyld of mej^dj-n borne be he wold. (5) Compare T XIII 710-11, TC 307-9 for verbal similarities with the retention of two rhyme words, mylde and chylde. hayll, 3^ong child! Hayle, mayde-modur and wj^ff soo hayll, maker, as I meyne, myld! of a madyn so mylde! I haue nothyng to present with thi chylde. (6) Compare Y 93, TC 315 for verbal similarities with the retention of the rhyme word, layde. Loo! whare t^at lorde is layde. For in a pore loggyn here art thow leyde. (7) Compare Y 40-2, TC 243-5 for verbal similarities with the retention of the rhyme word, sight. Steppe furth and stande by me right, Whatt thj^ng ys yondur thatt And tell me |3an schjmith soo bryght? Yf J)ou sawe euere swilke a sight. Yett sawe I nejaier soche a syght. 74 MARIE C. LYLE Professor Cady ascribes such passages of verbal similarity to the use of a common liturgical source.^'^ but the presence of common rhymes seems rather to indicate the existence of a parent play, of which perhaps the three extant plays represent later revisions. Certainly, the two Towne- ley plays, which occur in the characteristic metre of the Wakefield author, were composed after the separation of the two cycles,^^ as perhaps also the York play in the Northern Septenar/^ Accordingly, the numerous differences in these plays are adequately explained. York and Towneley further agree in two minor details wherein true- Coventry differs: (1) in the emphasis placed upon the citation of prophecies and (2) in the mention of a "cracked" voice^" as the reason for the shepherd's failure in imitating the angels' voices. John the Baptist A similarity between the York and Towneley plays of John the Baptist, contrary to Professor Hohlfeld's conclusions^ that none existed, becomes apparent when the two plays are compared, as in the following outline,^^ with the simpler Ludus Coventriae play. (1) Since John in Ludus Coventriae does not mention any of the following points in his opening speech, their occurrence in both York and Towneley appears significant, especially in the light of certain verbal similarities. (a) The people have wondered as to the possibility of John's being the Christ (Towneley) or a prophet (York). (b) John says that he can use only water for baptism, but that Jesus can use the Holy Ghost. Compare T 11. 41-46 and Y 11. 8-14 for verbal similarities, with the reten- tion of one rhyme word, gaste. In water clere then baptyse I When I haue, lord, in the name of the The pepyll that ar in this coste; Baptiste ^e folke in watir clere, Bot he shall do more myghtely, t)an haue I saide Jjat aftir me And baptyse in the holy goost. He schall giflfe baptyme more entire in fire and gaste. (c) John says that he is only a messenger, a forerunner of Christ; that his pur- pose is to urge man to prepare for the coming of Jesus. Compare T 11. 25-28 and Y II. 15-18 far verbal similarities. / am send bot messyngere Jjus am I comen in message right, And as for ganger e am I send. And he fore-reyner in certayne. *■> Cady. op. cit. PMLA 24:444 f. " See below, p. 101. " See above, ch. II, p. 30 ft. "> Of. T XIII, 11. 656-59 and Y 11. 67-68. •' Hohlfeld, op. oil. Anglia 11:295. " The play of John the Baptist does not occur in Chester. THE YORK AND TOWNELEY CYCLES 75 (2) In both York and Towneley, an angel" tells John of the coming of Jesus for baptism, whereas, in Ludus Coventriae, no angel appears. (3) John's fear and trembling in baptizing Jesus appear only in York and Towneley. Compare T 11. 181-84 and Y 11. 141-47 for verbal similarities, with the retention of two rhyme words, stande and drede. I tremyll and I whake for drede! A! lorde, / trymble Ipet I stande, I dar not towche the with my hande. For the to louche haue I grete drede, Abyde, my lord, and by me stand. Now helpe me lorde, (4) The actual descent of the Holy Ghost and God's proclamation from the clouds occur in Ludus Coventriae, but not in York or Towneley. Mr. Pollard^* suggests that the Towneley play belonged to the ''period when the York plays were being incorporated into the cycle," and Professor Gayley^^ believes it was based upon an early alternative of the York play, later discarded. Professor Gayley's conclusion may be true, but metrical and stylistic similarities of the Towneley play and certain York plays, such as the Building of the Ark and the Last Judgment, may indicate that the extant Towneley play itself represents the parent version, of which the York play is a revision. If this be the case, then York, in its revision, as in the case of the Northern Septenar plays,^^ omitted incidents which did not have a scriptural basis, especially those which were derived from vernacular literature. (1) The strophe in which John apostrophizes Jesus' mother as the empress of hell was derived from a vernacular lyric. ^^ (2) John believes that the angel's refusal to allow him to meet Jesus signifies the necessity of having children brought to church for baptism. This is the didactic tone and manner of the homilies. (3) Jesus' presentation of a lamb to John, as a charm against adversity, is prob- ably to be ascribed to a vernacular source. Or it may be, that the simpler York play is the parent version and that the expanded Towneley play is a revision of it. Lazarus Although the York, Towneley, and Chester plays of the Raising of Lazarus show many points of similarity, the relation between York and Towneley, in the portions unaffected by the gap in the York manuscript,^^ is closer: 63 One angel appears in York, but two in Towneley. " Pollard, op. cit. EETSES 71:intro. xxvi. '5 Gayley, Plays of Our Forefathers 134, n. 1. '8 See above, ch. II, p. 43 flf. «' See Taylor, The Middle English Religious Lyric Mod. Phil. S:20. " Smith, op. cit. 199. 76 MARIE C. LYLE (1) Jesus tells the disciples that they will go to Bethany, but the apostles, fearing for his life, object. Compare T 11. 7-10, 18, Y 11. 117-22, Ch p. 225 for verbal similari- ties, with the retention of three common rhymes, stede, dede, agane, in York and Towneley, and one, agane, in Chester. I red not that ye thider go, A! lorde, Jjou wote wele ilke Master, righte well thou The lues halden you for a tyde, may see thare fo; pe J ewes layte J)e ferre and The Jewes woulde have I red ye com not in that nere, stoned thee, stede. To stone Jje vnto dede. And yett thou will againe. Or putte to pereles payne ; — ff or if ye do then be ye dede. And J)ou to |Dat same stede Will thou now go thider Covaites to gange agayne. aga7ie? (2) Jesus tells the disciples that Lazarus sleeps and they, considering this a sign of recovery, suggest that they do not disturb him. Compare T 11. 19-21, Y 11. 131-34, and Ch p. 226 for verbal similarities. herkyn, breder, and takys And to 30U sale I more, Lazarre, my frende, is sleap- kepe; How |)at Lazar otire frende inge. lazare oure freynde is fallyn Slepes nowe, and I therfore Theidder we muste be on slepe; With 50U to hym will goinge. The way till hym now will wende. we take. (3) When Jesus informs the disciples that Lazarus is dead, they decide to go with him. Compare T 11. 29-30, Y 11. 137-39 for verbal similarities, with the retention of two rhyme words, stede and dede. Although the same incident is presented in Chester, no verbal parallels with York or Townelej- occur. Ne slepe may stand hym in no stede, I sale to ^ou, Lazare is dede. And for 50U all grete joie I haue, I say you sekerly he is dede. se wote I was noght in J)at stede. (4) Martha reproaches Jesus for not being present during her brother's illness, but he assures her that Lazarus will rise. (5) Martha thinks Jesus m.eans at Doomsday, but he assures her that he is the "resurrection and the life." (6) Jesus sends Martha to fetch Mary, who, lamenting, tells him of their sorrow. (7) Mar3' leads Jesus to the grave, telling him that Lazarus has been buried four days. (8) Jesus prays to God and bids Lazarus step forth. (9) Lazarus, in gratitude, praises Jesus. ^° Certain expansions in phraseology and certain additions in material conforming to scriptural accounts lead to the conclusion that the Northern Septenar strophes of the York play are a revision of the Towneley couplets : As evidence of the metrical expansion by York in conforming the couplets to the more complicated rhyme scheme of the Northern Septenar: (1) Til. 9-10 and Y 11. 119-21. I red ye com not in that stede, To stone J^e vnto dede, ffor if ye do then be ye dede. Or putte to pereles payne; — And l3ou to |)at same stede. (2) T 11. 29-30 and Y 11. 137-40. " The gap in the York manuscript covers points 4-7 inclusive. THE YORK AND TOWNELEY CYCLES 77 Ne slepe may stand hyni in no stede, I saie to 30U, Lazare is dede, I say you sekerly he is dede. And for 50U all grete joie I haue, 36 wote I was noght in J^at stede. As evidence of additions in subject-matter by York: (1) In the beginning of the play, Martha and Mary, in distress over their brother's death, send for Jesus, who replies that the illness of Lazarus is not deadly but for the glorification of God's Son. This addition may have been made for dramatic complete- ness, or perhaps for the sake of scriptural fidelity. (2) The apostles' fear for Jesus' life is elaborated in York by Jesus' remark that they must work while it is still light. (3) In accordance with the principles underlying all Northern Septenar plays, which excluded any derogatory remarks concerning the Deity, the York Martha, instead of reproaching Jesus for his delay, praises him at his entrance. (4) At the close of the play, either omitted from the Towneley version because of the addition of the more interesting Wakefield material, or included in the York ver- sion because of a desire for scriptural accuracy, the York Martha and Mary thank Jesus, and he, blessing them, leaves for Jerusalem. At the same time, it should be noted that the Towneley strophes in double quatrains and those rhyming ababababcccdcd are probably later additions in that c^^cle to the original or parent play in couplets. In the York version, Lazarus tells about being buried for four days and testifies to the power of the Son of God, asserting that all who trust in him will not die.^*^ Upon such a basis, present presumably in the parent play, Towneley shows an extensive elaboration. Lazarus assures the people, in double quatrains,^^ that no wonder can be greater than his resurrection; that he has, indeed, been brought back from hell. At this point, the metre changes to that rhyming ababababcccdcd, and in a style closely resembling that of the Wakefield author,^^ Lazarus asserts that not the mightiest on earth, neither king nor knight, can escape death, and that in spite of their gay clothes, their flesh will be eaten away. Changing back to the double quatrains, he begs the people to amend their lives while they may, and then returning to the longer strophe form, he assures them that he has seen and heard many a marvel, and that they should take warning from his sufferings. The play closes with his cry to God for protection. These exhortations point to a later lyrical insertion,^^ and do not in any way aft'ect the fundamental structure of the play. The Conspiracy The Towneley Conspiracio corresponds to three plays in the York cycle, the Conspiracy proper, the Last Supper, and the Agony and Betrayal. In order to facilitate the necessary discussion and explanation of. details, the Towneley play will be divided into three portions corresponding to the three play divisions of the York cycle. M York Play XXIV, 11. 186-97. 61 Towneley Play XXXI, 11. 103-10. 62 Bunzen op. cit. 15, suggests that the play was revised by the Wakefield author. " See Taylor, op. cit. Mod. Phil. 5:30, 32. 78 MARIE C. LYLE The Conspiracy Proper. — Similarities in the structural outlines and phraseology of the York and Towneley plays of the Conspiracy proper have already been presented''^ and may be regarded as evidence of the original identity of the two plays.^^ In fact, the Northern Septenar strophes of the Towneley play identify it as a play of the parent cycle. ^^ The York revision was probably made with two fundamental ideas in view: (1) the desire to bring the character of Pilate into closer conformity with scriptural accounts by making him kindlier in his attitude towards Jesus and anxious to avoid injustice;" and (2) to present the details in as realistic a manner as possible. To the first of these reasons, the following changes may be ascribed : (1) The York Pilate immediately perceives the Jews' hatred of Jesus, whereas the Towneley Pilate joins with the high priests in their antagonism against him. (2) In Towneley, the warning to be more temperate is directed against Pilate by his subordinates, but in York, it is Pilate who bids the high priests be more temperate. (3) In keeping with the deceitfulness of Pilate and the high priests, in Towneley, Judas is thanked and praised because of his treachery, while in York he is cursed and maltreated. The following changes may be explained by the second reason : (1) Judas' reason for selling Jesus, although developed by similar details, is in- troduced at different points in the presentation. In the York play, Judas' recital of his grievances serves as a happy means of impressing upon the audience the idea of his grim aspect, to which in the scene that follows, the porter takes so violent and sud- den an exception. In Towneley, the reason is not divulged until the terms of the bargain are being discussed. (2) The refusal to grant Judas admittance to the council chamber has been motivated, in the York revision, by the introduction of a new character, the porter, who, believing he sees treachery on Judas' grim face, orders him away. The six strophes in the characteristic metre of the Wakefield author, which form the introduction to the Towneley Conspiracio, are not, as Pro- fessor Cady believes,*^ the remains of an early Towneley play upon which the Northern Septenar strophes of a York play have been engrafted, but are rather to be regarded as a later addition to the Northern Septenar strophes. ®3 Otherwise, it would be difficult to explain the existence of similarities between the introduction and the body of the play :^° M See above, ch. I, pp. 5-9. '' In fact, this theory for the play has already been suggested. Professor Davidson's rhyme scheme tests {op. cit. 145) indicated that the Northern Septenar strophes of the Towneley play were written by the author responsible for the Northern Septenar plays in the York cycle. M See above, ch. III. •' This difference in the conception of Pilate's character is seen in all the Passion plays of the two cycles. In Towneley, his attitude is as brutal and scheming as is that of the high priests. This must have been the view of the parent cycle, preserved now in the Towneley plays, but modified in the York revisions. «8 Cady, op. cit. Mod. Phil. 10:590. •» See Mrs. Frank, op. cit. Mod. Phil. 15:181, n. 4. "> The similarities occurring in the extant introductions of the two plays have already been presented. See above, ch. I, p. 5-6. THE YORK AND TOWNELEY CYCLES 79 (a) From Wakefield strophe in the introduction: he prechys the pepyll here/ that fature fals ihesus, That if he lyf a j-ere/ dystro}^ oure law must vs; And 5'it I stand in fere/ so wyde he wj^rkys vertus, No fawt can on hym bere/ no lyfand leyde tyll vs; Bot sleyghtys Agans hym shall be soght, that all this wo has wroght. (37 fit.) From Northern Septenar strophe in the body of the play: Sir, oure folk ar so afrayd, thrugh lesyns he losys oure lay; Som remedy must be rayd, So that he weynd not thus away. Now certan, syrs, this was well sayd, and I assent, right as ye say, Som preuay poynt to be puruayd To mar his myght if [that] we ma}'. (66 ff.) ffor certan, syrs, ye say right weyll ffor to wyrk witterly; Bot yit som fawt must we feyll, wherfor that he shuld dy. (86 flf.) (b) From Wakefield strophe in the introduction: If this be true in deyd, his shech shall spryng and sprede, And ouer com euer ylkone. (51 ff.) From Northern Septenar strophe in the body of the play: Towchyng that tratoure Strang, that makys this beleyf, ffor if he may thus furth gang. It will ouer greatly grefe. (62 ff.) The Last Supper. — The chart analysis presented above, ^^ makes it apparent that, in the case of the Last Supper, York and Towneley selected in common many incidents from the Northern Passion. Although the Hegge plan's also make use of the same source, ^^ a different set of incidents are selected and emphasized from those appearing in both York and Towneley.'^^ The many similarities existing in York and Townelej^ then, " See above, ch. I, pp. 9-13. f2 Foster, op. cit. EETS 147:84 ff. " (1) The interruption of the incidents of the Last Supper by the introduction of events treated in another play in York and Towneley, such as the conspiracy of the Jews, the anointing of Jesus' feet, Judas' anger, the bargain and the selling of Jesus, shows that Ludus Coventriae follows a different model from that of York and Towneley. (2) The difference in the underljnng conception of the Ludus Coventriae play is also borne out by the different development of certain incidents. (a) It repeats Jesus' foretelling of his betrayal and Judas' departure for the high priests. (b) It does not consider the shepherd and herd illustration, given a prominent position in both York and Towneley. (c) Jesus' final speech follows a different model from that of either York or Towneley. (d) The position of Jesus' foretelling of Peter's denial, at the close of the Ludus Coventriae play, differs from its introduction at an earlier point in both York and Towneley. (3) Ludus Coventriae includes incidents not found in York and Towneley: (a) The blessing of the bread and wine by Jesus, and his offering them to the disciples as a token of his body and blood. (b) The entrance of the demon, gloating over the condemned soul of Judas, which he will soon claim as his own. 80 MARIE C. LYLE may be explained by stipposing their presence in the parent cycle, now extant in the couplets and perhaps the quatrains of the Towneley play which, according to the theory of a Northern Septenar revision in York,'* must have been revised in that metre for York after the separation. That the extant Towneley play represents, indeed, an earlier version than the extant York play is indicated by the extended verbal agreement which exists between certain of the couplets and the narrative source:'^ NORTHERN PASSION Sir u'hare wilt Jjou halde thi feste we willene gane sythene maste & leste Ihesu ansuerde sone on ane and callede to hym Petir & lohne Gase he saide 30 schall fynd & mete a man with watir in ]De strete t)e house l^at he gose to with grythe 36 sail hym folowe & gaa hym with. the lorde of Jse house 56 schall fynde a symple mane of sely kynde To hym 36 sail speke and saye I come sone in my waye. I will festene in his haulle Me and Myne discypills alle. (177-90) Ihesus bad \ia.m all sit doune And to his biding war Jjai bowne. (204a-b) ludas saughe Jjay sittene alle agayne Ihesu he gane downe falle Jjat he moughte with hym ete his tresoune ne wolde ne noghte forgete he stale owte of his lordis dysche Jje beste Morselle of his fysche. (209- 14) With tresun sail I be bitrayd, And ilkone by J^am self serely Said Jjusgate: "lorde, es it oght I t)at swilk treson has paruaid?" (244a, 257-59) Or 1)6 cokke thrise sail crawe 30W sail forsake me in a thrawe. (409- 10) Vp he rase right fra \)e burde And toke a clath with milde chere And a bacyn with water clere. (330-32) TOWNELEY Sir, where will ye youre paske ete? Say vs, let vs dight youre mete. Go furth, lohn and peter, to yond cyte; When ye com ther, ye shall then se In the strete, as tyte, a man beryng water in a can; The house that he gose to grith, Ye shall folow and go hym with; The lord of that house ye shall fynde, A sympyll man of cely kynde; To hym ye shall speke, and say That I com here by the way; Say I pray hym, if his will be, A lytyll whyl to ese me. That I and my dyscypyls all myght rest a whyle in his hall. (3 14-29) Sir, youre mett is redy bowne, will ye wesh and syt downe? yei, gyf vs water tyll oure hande, take we the grace that god has send; Commys furth, both oone and othere; If I be master I will be brothere. (346-51) Tunc comedent, 6f ludas porrigit manum in discum cum IliesuJ^ ludas, what menys thou? No thyng, lord, bot ett with you. (352-53) for oone of you shall [me] betray. {Pet.) lord, I shall neuer the betray; Dere master, is it oght I? {John) Master, is oght I he then? {And.) Master, am oght I that shrew? {Sim.) Master, then is oght I? {Phil.) Is it oght I (r/m<^.) Wasitoghtl . . (355 ff.) Peter, thou shall thryse apon a thraw fforsake me, or the cok craw. (380-81) Take vp this clothe and let vs go, ffor we haue othere thyngs at do. (382-83) '< See above, ch. II, 30 £f. " Miss Foster, loc. cit., has already noted some of these verbal agreements. " A stage direction. THE YORK AND TOWNELEY CYCLES 81 And on his knese down gan he fall Sit all downe, and here and sees, ffor I shall wesh youre feet on knees. And said t)at he wald wass his fete. (384-85) (334-36) I haue done 3e ne wate whatt. (356) Why I do it thou wote not yit. (388) hot I do tis, Bot I the wesh, thou mon mys ^ou gettes no part with me in blis. parte with me in heuens blys. ^an said peter and ojjer ma: "^at bHs, lord, lat vs noght forga, Nay, lord, or I that forgo, Wasche heuid and hend lord pray we wesh heede, handys, and feytt also. 1)6." (341-45) (392-95) Maister and lord now 5e me call Ye call me master and lord by name; And wele se say for I am so. Ye say full wele, for so I am; And sit I haue kneled 50W vnto Sen I, both lord and master, to you And wasschen 30wre fete all on raw, wold knele So t)at 36 sail ensample knaw. (358-62) to wesh youre fete, so must ye w^ele. Ensaumpyll haue I gyffen you to. (404-9) The Towneley couplets, it will be noted, follow the order of the Northern Passion account, save for the position of the foretelling of Peter's denial. The passage which has been cited as evidence pointing to a lost foot-washing scene" is, in the light of the source, merely an introduction to the Eucharist. Such an arrangement of incidents is not, then, indicative of confusion on the part of the pla3rwright^^ and can not, therefore, be advanced as evidence pointing to the editorial work of a couplet writer at work on the Towneley cycle'^^ after its separation from York. A gap in the York manuscript and the corruption of the Towneley text, make it difficult to point out the changes made in the York revision. With the exception of the introductory scene where the disciples arrange for the house for the Last Supper, believed by Professor Cady to have been dropped from the York cycle when the separation into different plays occurred,^'' and Jesus' final sermon to his disciples, the York play contains not only all of the incidents included in the Towneley play, but also three additional incidents derived from the Northern Passion. It must, there- fore, have made a second and more extensive use of the source upon which the parent play was based. Accordingly, the incidents added to York at this time were : (1) The quarrel among the disciples as to the leadership after Jesus' death. (2) Jesus' commending the disciples to Peter's care. (3) Jesus commanding the disciples to provide themselves with swords. The Agony and Betrayal. — The sim.ilarities in structural outlines and phraseology between the York and Towneley plays of the Agony and " Cady, op. cit. Mod. Phil. 10:591 5. 's Cady, (op. cit. JEGP 10:576 £E. and Mod. Phil. 10:593) remarking upon the corrupt condition of the Towneley play, calls attention to the repetition of the foretelling of Peter's denial and of a supposed foot-washing scene, the one presentation of the incidents being in couplets, the other in quatrains. '9 See Mrs. Frank, op. cit. Mod. Phil. 15:182. 80 Cady, op. cit. Mod. Phil. 10:593. 82 MARIE C. LYLE Betrayal have already been presented above. ^^ We note here the same situation which existed in the Conspiracy and the Last Supper, namely, that although the Hegge play used the Northern Passion, it did not select or emphasize the incidents chosen in common by York and Towneley. This fact taken into consideration with the further development of certain incidents by means of similar details in both York and Towneley seems to point to a parent pla3^ from which the extant York and Towneley versions were derived. The corrupt form of the Wakefield stanza in strophes 97-102 of the scene connected with the capture of Jesus^^ can not be regarded as a rem- nant of an earlier Towneley play upon which a simpler play in quatrains was engrafted. ^^ The three soldiers assure Pilate, in the usual boastful vein of the Miles Gloriosus, of their determination to seize Jesus at any cost: Malcus is ready to die for Mahound's sake if only he may be per- mitted to take Jesus; the second soldier boasts that, as sure as he eats bread, he will strike off Jesus' head; the third soldier glibly promises Pilate speedy vengeance, since three such knights as they could bind the devil himself. Pilate, in turn, salutes them as "curtes kasers of kamys kyn" and bids them bring Jesus to him "safe and sownde." As will be seen, this material in the Wakefield strophes is merely a further elaboration of the incidents given in the simple quatrains, the suggestion for which is found in the Northern Passion. •^'^ l^an l)ai come with ful grete rowte And vmsett ihesus all obout With swerdes & maces & glaues gude; l)ai blew homes als Jiai war wode And in lanternes bare Jjai light, And sum bare brandes brinand bright iDat |Dai might graithly se lie gat, ffor it was in \)e euenig late. The dramatic presentation of these lines and their incorporation into both York and Towneley as a transition scene between Jesus' agony in the garden and his capture by the Jews point rather to a parent play from which both the extant versions have been derived. ^^ Evidence for this theory is seen in the further development of the scene in both cycles by means of similar details : (1) The soldiers are armed with swords. (2) Pilate, in Towneley, and the high priests, in York, show their eagerness in the search for Jesus by commanding the soldiers to seek everywhere for him: " See above ch. I, pp. 13-18. »' Towneley Play XX. 11. 599-651. M Cady, The Wakefield Group in Towneley JEGP 11:252 S. »« Foster, op. cit. EETS 145:53. " Probably the York play represents a later revision (see Gayley, Plays of Our Forefathers 154) of the parent play, now extant, perhaps in part, in Towneley. THE YORK AND TOWNELEY CYCLES 83 haue done, sir knyghtys, and kythe youre strengthe, And wap you wightly in youre wede ; Seke ouer all, both brede and lengthe! Spare ye not, spende and spede! We haue soght hym les and more. (Towneley 1. 592 ff.) Als 5e are a lorde of grete renoune, 5e spare hym not to spill. I^e devill hym spede! Where 56 hj'^m see, on hym take hede. We schall hym seke both even and morne. (York 1. 215 ff.) (3) Malcus brings a light to bear before the soldiers. (4) The command is given to begin the search. At this point, in the Towneley play, the Wakefield strophes occur, and comparison with the Northern Passion and the York play makes it clear that they are a later addition. ^^ Nor can there be any doubt that the York play represents a revision." The dissimilarities now existing between York and Towneley can therefore be adequately explained on the ground of later revisions : (1) York elaborates many of the incidents provided for in the parent play and repeats Jesus' command to the disciples to watch and to pray not to fall into tempta- tion. (2) On the other hand, the Wakefield strophes in the midst of the quatrains indicate a further elaboration in Towneley of the incident showing the eagerness of the soldiers to hunt for Jesus. (3) Certain additions in the York play point to a second and more extensive use of the Northern Passion, as seen in the incident where the soldiers fall to the ground at the sight of Jesus' divinity and Jesus' assurance that he could have a host of angels to testify to his power if he so wished. (4) In accordance with its conception of Pilate, the Towneley play shows him as the instigator and director of the preparations made to seize Jesus; the revised York play, on the other hand, with its changed view of Pilate's character,^* assigns the r61e to the high priests. The Crucifixion and Burial The similarities existing between the York and Towneley plays dealing with the Crucifixion and Burial have already been presented.^^ The two York plays, XXXV and XXXVI, seem to be expanded versions of the one Towneley play, XXIII, and many of the differences now existing may be accounted for by this expansion. In the development of details, the York plays are long drawn out, with much repetition, as in the case of the soldiers' mockery of Jesus, where they deride his claim to kingship and his claim of being able to tear down the temple and rebuild it in three days. 8« See Mrs. Frank, op. cil. Mod. Phil. 15:181, n. 4. »' See Hohlfeld, op. cit. Anglia 11:248; Gayley, op. cit. 154. 85 See above, ch. II, p. 44 ff. 8» See above, ch. I, pp. 24-28. 84 MARIE C. LYLE In Towneley, the incident occurs once, 11. 486-97, but in York, it is given in both plays, PI. XXXV, 11. 273-83 and PI. XXXVI, 11. 79-91. In one instance, a long speech by Jesus is split into several parts in the York revision, different parts appearing at different places in both plays. 3*' Not only does the treatment of the subject-matter point to a later revision and further separation into two plays by York, but the metre also bears out the same assumption. The two York plays, the one, the Crucifixion, in the Northern Septenar and the other, the Mortificacio, in a later modifica- tion of it, are later stanzaic forms^^ than the simpler and more common rime couee, in which the body of the Towneley play is composed, and which presumably represents the parent play, in part, at least. The Towneley play also has undergone revision in certain strophes which closely resemble the work of the Wakefield author. ^^ Probably, the strophes in the medial rhymed quatrains of three accents to the half- line, and the strophes rhyming aabaabbcb and aabccbbdbd also represent revisions. These strophes are mainly concerned with the boasting of Pilate, the lamentations of Mary, and the suffering of Jesus, just such incidents as would readily adapt themselves to elaboration and revision. The Appearance of Jesus to Mary Magdalene Similarities in structural outlines and isolated phrases occur between the York and Towneley plays of Jesus' Appearance to Mary Magdalene: (1) Mary, searching for Jesus' body, asks the gardener where he has put it. Compare T 11. 581, 563-68. 573-74 and Y 11. 70, 42-43, 38 for verbal similarities, with the retention of one rhyme word, away, and other phrases. In fayth / haue hym soght. / haue Jdc sought. Say me, garthynere, I the pray, Therfore, goode gardner, sais Jjou me, I pray pe for the prophetis sake, If thou hare oght my lord aiuay; Swete Sir, yf pou hym bare azvaye. The stede thou bare his body tyll Tell Tne I the pray. (2) Jesus reveals himself and Mary recognizes him. (3) At Mary's desire to kiss his feet, Jesus commands her not to touch him. Compare T 11. 592-96 and Y 11. 82-85 for verbal similarities with the retention of one rhyme word, Trinite. Nay, mary, neghe thou not me, Negh me noght, my loue, latte be! flfor to my fader, tell I the, Marie, ■ . ■ • _ •_ • • • • To my fadir in Trinite yit stevynd I noght; Fort)e / stigh no^t yctte. Before theym all in Irynyte. •0 Cf. T 11. 233-38 and Y XXXV. 11. 253-58; T 11. 255-60 and Y XXXVI, 11. 192-95; T 11. 274-83. 272-73. 206 and Y XXXV. 1. 52. XXXVI. 11. 118-28; T II. 290-4 and Y XXXV. 11. 259-64, XXXVI. 11. 254-58. •' The theory of the Northern Septenar revision was presented above, ch. II. Gayley, op. oil. 57. considers the strophe form of the Mortificacio an indication that the play was revised. " Bunzen. op. cit. 49. thinks the strophes in question are the work of the Wakefield author. THE YORK AND TOWXELEY CYCLES 85 (4) Jesus bids her tell the disciples of his resurrection. The presence of "Burns" strophes in the Towneley play identifies it as perhaps a part of the parent cycle, ^^ of which the York play, with its greater elaboration of details, probably represents a revision. York elaborates the following points : (1) Mary's opening lament at Jesus' tomb, where she feels she has "lost her wits" and prays God to permit her to see Jesus or his messenger. (2) Jesus, in the guise of a gardener, wishes to know what Mary would do with the body if she had it. (3) When Jesus reveals himself to Mary, he shows his wounds in testimony of his identity. (4) Mary's praises of Jesus are elaborated upon and closely resemble the general spirit and wording of numerous medieval lyrics." She lauds him as a comely con- queror whose love is sweeter than honey. (5) Jesus' reply in the same fantastic strain may also belong to the same type of literature. Jesus gives a detailed description of his mighty armor, likening his leather hauberk to his head and his breast-plate to his out-spread body. TJie P ere grim Although the same incidents are contained in the play of the Peregrini in the four English cycles, it is noteworthy that York and Towneley agree in elaborating the essential incidents by the addition of similar details, often with the use of parallel phraseology. (1) In the four plays, the disciples meet and mourn Jesus' death. The lamenta- tions in York and Towneley are more elaborate than in the other two cycles. They also agree in giving a more detailed account of the cruelties suffered by Jesus and in calling to mind certain details connected with the crucifixion. Compare T 11. 15, 30 and Y 11. 20-21; T 1. 57 and Y 11. 106, 81 for verbal similarities. Bio thou bett hym bare. Howe l)ei bette Jjat body was bote of all bales And forto bete his body bio. With buffettis Tpei bete hym full barely. Vnto the ded yit thay hym dight. l)us with dole was Jjat dere vnto dede dight. To l^e dying pei dight hym. (2) Jesus, in the guise of a pilgrim, meets the disciples and inquires into their trouble. Compare T 11. 98-99 and Y 11. 67-69, 72 for verbal similarities, with the retention of one rhyme word, way {wayes in Y), and other phrases. Pylgrymes, whi make ye this mone. What are Jdcs meruailes Jjat se of mene, And J)us mekill mournj-ng in mynde Jjat 5e make, And walk so rufuUy by the way? Walking Jjus wille be l^es wayes? (3) The disciples tell about the report of the women. Compare T 11. 186-88 and Y 11. 116-19 for verbal similarities, with the retention of one rhyme word, sight, and other phrases. " See above, ch. Ill, 47 ff. »• See lyrics printed by Mr. Taylor, op. cit. Mod. Phil. 5:1-38. 86 MARIE C. LYLE Bot saide a light Howe all was lemand light wher he Com downe with angels, and vp hj'm was laide broght Tharein thare sight. For certayne Jdci saugh it in sight. A visioune of aungellis bright. (4) The disciples assert that, although thej' distrusted the report, they found it to be true. Compare T 11. 195-96 and Y 11. 123-24 for verbal similarities. yee, 50w of vs, sir, haue beyn thare, Some of oure folke hyed forthe and And/a«H(/e it as the women saide. faste \>ei itfande, J)at all was soth \)a.t t^ei saide. . . Immediately preceding the disciples' account of the women's report, the York and Towneley peregrini tell the stranger that they are awaiting Jesus' resurrection the third day as he had foretold. The position of this detail appears significant, be- cause in both Chester and Ludus Coventriae, it occurs at other points in the presen- tation. (5) Jesus reproaches the disciples for their disbelief^" and quotes prophecies. (6) The peregrini invite Jesus to remain for the night. Compare T 11. 240-41 and Y 11. 143-44 for verbal similarities. Now sir, we pray you, as oure freynde, All nyght we thynke for to byde here, All nyght to abyde for charite. Bide with vs, sir pilgrime, we pray )ou. Chester does not include the desire, expressed by the disciples in the other plays, to hear more of the stranger's talking. His conversation is characterized as "kyndely" in York and Towneley, but not in the other cycles. With Jesus' reluctance to remain, but final acceptance of the invitation, the similarity in the fundamental outlines of the four plays is resumed. (7) The similarity is continued in the vanishing of Jesus immediately after he has blessed the bread. Compare T 11. 391-92 and Y 11. 160-62 for verbal similarities not found in the other cycles. . . . where is this man becom, Saiel wher is pis man? Right here that sat betwix vs two. Away is he went, Right now satte he beside vsl (8) The realization on the part of the disciples that the stranger was Jesus occurs in all four plays, as well as their rejoicing and departure to tell the other disciples. Compare T 11. 363-65 and Y U. 188-89 for verbal similarities. ^^ Such an extensive similarity can not be adequately explained, as Pro- fessor Cady suggests, ^^ by the theory of a common liturgical source. The "Burns" stanzas, forming the body of the play, identify it as a part of the parent cycle, ^^ and the York play may be regarded as a revision of it. The conciseness with which the York incidents are presented appears to point to an intentional condensation of the play. A passage in the York text clearly indicates a limitation in time : " See T 1. 202, Y 1. 130, Ch p. 104 and Hegge plays p. 367 for verbal similarities. "Compare Ch p. 106 and Hegge plays p. 371 for verbal similarities not so close as those existing between York and Towneley. »' Cady, op. cit. PMLA 24:464. «9 See above, ch. Ill, 47 S. THE YORK AND TOWNELEY CYCLES 87 Here may we notte melle of more at \iis tyde, For prossesse of plaies J)at precis in plight. ^^ On the other hand, isolated strophes in the characteristic metre of the Wakefield atithor^"^ and the stanzas rhyming ababcbc, which occur either in connection with the Wakefield strophes or separately/^^ represent probable additions in the Towneley cycle. These strophes, it should be noted, consist merely in repetitions of material already presented or show an expansion in phraseology. Third Group of Plays In the third group, we have the plays which show a similarity in structural outlines and verbal reminiscences in isolated passages. Such resemblances, in conjunction with the extensive agreements in the plays of the first two groups, we believe indicative of a former identity. Because of the absence of common rhymes, we must suppose the revisions of the plays in this group more thorough than those in the first two groups. In most cases, it is probable that the plays underwent independent revisions in both cycles. Noah and the Flood Similarities in structural outlines and verbal reminiscences in isolated passages occur between the York and Towneley plays dealing with Noah and the Flood: (1) God finds that that part of his creation, man, in whom he has taken the greatest pride, lies deep in sin. Compare T 11. 28-31, 111 and Y PI. VIII, 11. 6-16 for verbal similarities. . . . to his liknes maide man. And to my liknes made I man, . . . Adam & eue that woman, A womati also with hym wrought I, To multiplie without discord, I badde Jjame waxe and multiplye, To fulfille this worlde, withoutyn striffe In erth I se hot syn reynand to and And synne is nowe reynand so ryffe. fro. (2) God repents ever having made man and decides to destroy him by means of a flood, saving only Noah, his family, and two of each of the animals. Compare T 11. 91-101 and Y PI. VIII, 11. 15-16, 27-28 for verbal similarities. I repente full sore that euer maide I Jjat me repentys and rewys forj)} man. pat euer I made outhir man or wiflfe. Therfor shall I fordo all this midell- A flowyd above ^ame shall be broght, erd With floodis that shall flo. To stroye medilerthe, . . . »» York Play XL. 11. 191-92. 100 Towneley Play XXVII, str. 3 and 30. 101 Towneley Play XXVII, str. 1 and 2 in connection with Wakefield str. 3; str. 29 and 31 in connection with Wakefield str. 30. Str. 33, 39, and 48 occur separately. 88 MARIE C. LYLE (3) God appears to Noah and gives him the instructions for building the ship and filling it, telling him that it will begin to rain in seven daj^s. Compare T 11. 147-48 and Y PI. VIII, 11. 138-39 for verbal similarities. // shall begyn full sone to rayn vnces- Eftir ^e vii day sail it rayne santle. After dayes seuen be done and induyr Till fowrty dayes be fully paste. dayes fourty. (4) Noah rejoices that he should be so favored, but complains of his inability to carry out the plan because of his old age. (5) Noah works on the ship alone for a hundred years. (6) A comic altercation between Noah and his wife ensues. The wife, urged by her husband to enter the ark, stubbornly refuses, offering excuses. The argument increases in vehemence until finally blows are exchanged. In the end, the wife is overcome and forced to enter the ship. (7) The flood rises. (8) The flood wanes. (a) Twice, we are told that the waning has set in. Compare T 11. 450, 458 and Y PI. IX, 11. 188, 204 for verbal similarities. It is vjayiyd a grete dele. For be the wanyng may w^e witte Yei, now wanys the see. It is wanand, Jois wate I wele. (b) The cataracts are knit together and the sun appears in the horizon. Com- pare T 1. 451 and Y PI. 1. 190 for verbal similarities. and ca.teractes knyt. The calteraks I trowe be knytte. (c) Three hundred and fifty days have passed in Townelej^ since the beginning of the flood and nine months in York, as against the traditional forty days. (d) Noah, sounding the sea, finds that it is fifteen cubits deep. Compare T 11. 433-34 and Y PI. IX, 11. 195-96 for verbal similarities. and I shall asay I sail assaye pe see, The depnes of the see. How depe J)at it is here. (e) At the sight of the hills of Armenia, there is rejoicing ; />e hillis of hermonye, see T 1. 466 and Y PL IX, 1. 264. (f) The raven is sent out but fails to return. (g) The dove is sent out and returns with the olive branch, the token of their salvation; lue shall be sauyd all, T 1. 517, and ive mone be saued, Y 1. 260. (9) As the family leave the ship, they remark upon the desolation of the land and the drowning of the people. These similarities appear to indicate a parent version of which the extant York and Towneley plays represent independent revisions.^"- The two York plays are thought to have been written under the same influence as that which dominated the Northern Septenar productions, ^°^ and may, therefore, be regarded as revisions of an earlier play.^"'* The Towneley "•2 Certain similarities with Chester may be explained by assuming that Chester came in contact with the parent play or some earlier version of it than those now extant. >»' Davidson, op. cil. 144 ff. >o« See above, ch. II, p. 30 £f. Although Professor Hohlfeld (Ayiglia 1 1 :288) admits that the York and Towneley plays stand very close to each other in many respects, he thinks the differences so numerous and so important as to make improbable a direct relationship between the two. Professor Gayley (Plays of Our Forefathers 168), on the other hand, believes the influence of York upon Towneley not unlikely. THE YORK AND TOWNELEY CYCLES 89 play, composed in the characteristic metre of the Wakefield author, also represents a revision. ^"^ Thus, the dissimilarities are adequatel}^ explained: (1) The York play handles certain incidents not treated in Towneley; namely, the v.-ife's refusal to enter the ark without her gossips and the appearance of the rain- bow. (2) As an excuse for her reluctance to enter the ark, the Towneley wife expresses a desire to continue her spinning, the York wife to go to town. (3) The satiric remarks directed in general against husbands, wives, and mar- riage by the Towneley Noah and his wife are characteristic of the Wakefield author. The greater violence of the Towneley scene may also be ascribed to his pen, as well as the additional scene of altercation, when the wife learns of the command to build the ship. The additional comments at the close of the play concerning the desolation and death caused by the flood are probably also by the same author. TJw Annunciation In structural outline and phraseology the English plays on the Annun- ciation agree closely.^"" In three incidents, however, York and Towneley make use of certain phrases not found in the other cycles : (1) Mary can not understand the fulfillment of the angel's command. Compare Til. 111-14 and Y 11. 170-74. A child to bere thou me hetys, Howe sulde it be, I the praye, Hoiv stild it he? That I sulde consayve c childe I cam neuer by man's syde, I knawe no man Jjat shulde haue fj'Ied Bot has avowed my madynhede. My maydenhode, the sothe to saj^e. (2) Mary is told that Elizabeth also has conceived a son. Compare T 11. 134-39 and Y II. 181-84. Elesabeth, thi Cosyn, that is cald geld Loo, Elyzabeth, pi cosyne, ne myght She has conceyffed a son in elde, hi elde consayne a childe for aide. And this is pis is pe sexte moneth full ryght. The sext moneth (3) Mary, praising God, resigns herself to his will. Compare T II. 143-47 and Y 11. 187-92. / lofe my lord all weldand, / love my lorde with herte dere, I am his madyn at his hand, Goddis handmayden , lo! me here, I trow hodword that thou me brjmg, To his will all redy grayd. Be done to me in all thyng. Be done to me of all manere, Thurgh thy worde Since the Towneley Annunciation is contained in the same play as Joseph's Trouble, in all probability a part of the parent 03^016,^"^ one may surmise that it also represents the parent play which has been revised by York in a different m^etre but without an}'' elaboration of subject-matter. "5 See Mrs. Frank, op. cit. Mod. Phil. 15:181, n. 4. 106 See Hohlfeld, op. cit. Anglia 11:290, Davidson, op. cit. 158-63, Cadj', op. cit. PMLA 24:435 fiE. and Hemingway, op. cit. intro. xvii for the different theories advanced to explain the relationship. 10' See above, p. 56 fE. 90 MARIE C. LYLE The Visit to Elizabeth As in the case of the Annunciation, the Visit to Elizabeth in the English cycles is composed of common incidents which closely follow the scriptural narrative. York and Towneley, however, agree in certain details and phraseolog}^ not found in the other cycles : (1) The welcome by Elizabeth, Compare T 11. 4-6 and Y 11. 201-4 for verbal similarities. Welcotn, mary, blj^ssed blome, Welcome! mylde Marie, loyfull am I of thi com Joifull woman am I, To me, from nazareth. ]3at I nowe see J^e here. (2) The inquiry concerning the relatives. Compare T U. 13-16 and Y 11. 197-99 for verbal similarities. ffuU lang shall I the better be, Elyzabeth, myn awne cosyne. That I may speke my fyll with the. Me thoght I coveyte alway mast My dere kyns Woman; To speke with pe of all my kynne. To wytt how thi freyndys fare. (3) Elizabeth's commendation of Mary for placing her trust in God. Compare T 11. 43-48 and Y 11. 225-32 for verbal similarities. And als, mary, hlyssed be thou, Blissed he pou grathely grayed That stedfastly wold trow, l)ou trowed and helde be payed That vnto the were sayd or send. All pat to pe is saide. (4) Mary's desire to pray. Compare T 11. 49-51 and Y 11. 237-40 for verbal similarities, with the retention of one rhyme word, hele, and other phrases. My saull lufys my lord abuf, My saiile sail louying ma Vnto l)at lord so lele. And my gost gladys with luf. And my gast make ioye alswa In god, that is my hele. In god pat es my hele. If, as we suggested above, the York play of the Annunciation represents a revision of the Towneley play, then the York Visit, composed in the same metre and included in the same play as the Annunciation, likewise is a revision. If this be the case, the York revision appears to have been influenced, as in the Northern Septenar plays, ^"^ by a desire to conform more closely to scriptural accounts. It not only follows the correct order of events. Annunciation, Salutation, Joseph's Trouble, rather than the incorrect order given in Towneley, but it also omits much of the extraneous matter concerning the relatives which the Towneley play introduces. The Examination before Caiaphas Among the English cycles, only York and Towneley separate the incidents connected with the Examination of Caiaphas from the incidents connected with the various trial scenes and make of them a complete play. Moreover, certain similarities in structural outlines and phraseology occur: iM See above, ch. II, p. 44 ff. THE YORK AND TOWNELEY CYCLES 91 (1) Jesus, mocked and abused by the soldiers, is led to Caiaphas. (2) The soldiers complain bitterly about the difficulty and weariness of the journey. (3) Accusations are brought against Jesus: that he claims to be able to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days; that he cures the sick; that he breaks the Sab- bath; that he calls himself God's Son (Men call hym a prophete and goddis son of heuen, T 1. 91 and Callis hym sclffe God sone of hevene, Y 1. 50) and cares nothing for Caesar. (4) Caiaphas, himself, offers to examine Jesus. Compare T 11. 128, 235 and Y 1. 275 for verbal reminiscence. ffor certys, I my self shall/ make examynyng. For my selfe schall serche hym and here what he sais. And therfore examynyng ffyrste will I make. (5) Jesus refuses to answer. (6) The Jews, angry because of Jesus' silence, wish to beat him. (7) Upon being asked whether or not he is the son of God, Jesus answers. Com- pare T 11. 249-54 and Y 11. 292-97 for verbal similarities. (8) The Jews then consider that no more witnesses are needed. Compare T 11. 259-60 and Y 11. 302-5 for verbal similarities. Thou art worthy to del Nowe nedis nowdir wittenesse ne coun- we nede no wytnes, saille to call, hys self says expres. But take his sawes as he saieth . . . Wherfore he is wele worthy to be dede. (9) Since Caiaphas does not possess "temporal" power, they decide to send Jesus to Pilate for judgment. Compare T 1. 291 (Sich men of astate shuld no men deme) and Y 1. 339 (se awe to deme noman). (10) They order Jesus beaten. (11) The scene of the buffeting. (12) Jesus is led away to Pilate. Of these incidents, those numbered (2), (6), and (9) do not occur in the source, the Northern Passion,'^^^ and may, therefore be regarded as evidence pointing to a parent version, of which the extant York and Towne- ley plays are revisions. In both cycles, the play is composed in a late metre: in York, it occurs in a corrupt modification of the Northern Sep- tenar,'^" and in Towneley in the characteristic strophe of the Wakefield author. "1 In its revision, York apparently added two new scenes: the preliminary court scene and perhaps Peter's denial. The former scene was probably a special feature since it contains material derived from the Gospel of Nicodemus}^'^ lO'See above, ch. I, pp. 18-20. >'» Hohlfeld, op. cit. Aitglia 11:248, Gayley, Plays of Our Forefathers 154, and Davidson, op. cit. 137 regard it as a late play. "I See below, p. 101. "S For incorporation of material from Gospel of Nicodemus, compare Y 11. 33-39 and G of N 11. 39-44, Y 11. 40-45 and G of N Add. 11. 29-38. Y 11. 50-54 and G of N 11. 22-28, Y 1. 57 and G of N 11. 47-48. 92 MARIE C. LYLE The Ascension Similarities in certain details and in isolated passages occur between the York and Towncley plays of the Ascension: (1) The disciples await together Jesus' coming and the approaching events. (2) Jesus appears to the disciples, reproaches them for being hard of heart and unbelieving, and exhorts them to preach the gospel. "In /mrc/ness youre Jiarlys ar fast" (T 1. 200), "And wondir harde of harlis ar se" (Y 1. 84). (3) Jesus promises to return at Doomsday in order to judge man. In the mean- time, he promises to send the Holy Ghost. (4) The clouds open to receive Jesus and he ascends. (5) Mary is both joyful and sorrowful at Jesus' departure. Compare T 11. 298- 301, 348-55 and Y 11. 179-82 for verbal similarities. A selcouth sight yonder now is, A sclcoiith sight is l^is to see, Mi sone lius to be ravisshed right A clowde has borne my chylde to blys. In a clowdc wcndande vppe fro me. (6) Mary fears the Jews and John attempts to comfort her. (7) The angels proclaim Jesus' ascension. Compare T 11. 254-68 and Y 11. 219- 24 for verbal similarities, with the retention of two rhyme words, Galile and se, and other phrases. ye men of galylee, ^e men of l^e lande of Galile, wherfore mcruell ye? What wondir se to heuene lokand? hevyn behold and se Jjis Jesus whome 5e fro youe sec how ihesus vp can weynde Vppe-iane, se schall well vndirstande. Right so shall he, securly. Right so agayne come doune schall he, Com downe agane truly, with his woundys blody. When he so comes with woundes bledatid. (8) The disciples lead Mary away. (9) The disciples leave for Jerusalem. Undoubtedly, the Wakefield variants, the double quatrains, and the strophes rhyming ababbcbecded represent later additions, because the subject-matter with which they deal is a repetition or an elaboration of incidents contained in the simpler metres, the ri?ne couce and the single quatrain. The single quatrains may also be a revision for the same reasons. (1) Perhaps in imitation of the three appearances of Jesus in the Incredulity of Thomas, the Towncley play of the Ascension also makes him appear three times."' The first appearance occurs in strophes rhyming ababbcbecded and abab,"'' the second appearance in ababbcbecded, ababcdddc, and aaabcccb,"^ and the third in single quatrains."* (2) Mary repeats her comments upon Jesus' ascension, both times in single quatrains, which may be an indication of two quatrain writers, or the bungling work of one. "' Hohlfcld, op. cit. Anglia 11:303 suggests that this is in imitation of the three appearances of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. »'« Lines 25-52. '"Lines 101-57. "» Lines 194 fif. THE YORK AND TOWNELEY CYCLES 93 (3) Jesus' promise to come again at Doomsday occurs twice, once in the rime couee and again in single quatrains. (4) The disciples' marvelling at Jesus' ascension seems to be a repetition in Wakefield variants of material given in single quatrains. ^ (5) John's attempt to comfort Mary occurs twice, both times in single quatrains, as in (2). Certain of the incidents, common to York and Towneley, are further elaborated in York: (1) Jesus' appearance is marked b}?^ the presence of additional details. (2) In his reproach of the disciples, Jesus contrasts their distrust with Mary's loyalty. (3) The disciples' marvelling at Jesus' ascension is much elaborated. (4) The disciples promise to care for Mary as they lead her away. (5) Mary proclaims Jesus as her son. Thus, both the York and Towneley plays appear to be revisions of an earlier play. Perhaps, the parent play is extant, in part, in the rime couee stanzas of the Towneley play. Fourth Group of Plays In the fourth group, we have the plays which show certain similarities in structural outlines, but without extensive or significant agreements in phraseology. In the case of these plays, we can not be sure that the resemblance is indicative of an original identity. But on the other hand, it is possible that independent revisions destroyed traces of verbal agree- ment. Cain and Abel The gap in the York manuscript in the midst of the play on Cain and Abel, covering such important incidents as the tithing and the murder of Abel, makes a complete comparison with the Towneley play impossible. In spite of this difficulty, however, York and Towneley show certain similarities in incidents and phraseology, not found in the other English plays."'' Both cycles include: (-1) A comic episode between Cain and his Garcio. (2) Cain's obstinacy before acceding to Abel's entreaties to make the sacrifice. Similarities in phraseology^ are found in the following lines : (1) Tl. 174 and Y 1. 3. God that shape both erth and heuen. He shoppe Jje Sonne, both see & sande. (2) T 1. 345 and Y 1. 84. What askis thou me? I trow at hell. What askes thowe me that taill to tell? II' Because it treats incidents not found in York or Towneley, the Chester play diflfers considerably: (a) Adam's vision while Eve was being created; (b) Cain tells his parents of the murder; (c) the lamenta- tions of Adam and Eve over the sorrows and misfortunes of life. 94 MARIE C. LYLE (3) T 11. 351-53 and Y 11. 100-1."8 The voyce of thi brotheris blode pe voice of his bloode cryeth vengeaunce from erth to heuen venyance cryse. Fro erlhe to heuen. (4) T 1. 355 and Y 11. 90 and 107. here I gif the my malison. God hais sent the his malyson. God has gefiynpe his malisonne. (5) T 11. 361-65 and Y 11. 121-26. / shall hyde me fro thi face. Fro \)e shalle I be hidde in hye. (6) Tl. 370 and Yl. 128.»9 Nay, caytn, it bese not so. Nay, Cayme nou^t soo, haue Jjou no drede. The divergences in the two plays may be explained by later revisions in both cycles. The complicated strophe form of the York play (ababbcdbccd) may be evidence of a later revision of that play; at any rate, the Brewbarret episode was not entered in the Register until 1558.^-" The variety of metrical forms in the Towneley play is itself an indication of revision. The determination of the probable earlier and later stages in the development of the Towneley play and the relation of the play to the parent cycle present an interesting study. The greater part, in fact the body of the play, is written in couplets; a number of twelve- or thirteen- line strophes, rhyming aaabcccbbdbd or aaabccccbbdbd, appear at the beginning, and two strophes in the favorite metre of the Wakefield author at the close, while interspersed among the couplets occur variations of the simple rime conee, or what may be corruptions of the pedes of the twelve- or thirteen-line strophe. ^^i Because of its extraordinary boldness and characteristic humor, as well as the presence of two Wakefield strophes, the play has generally been considered a later revision by the Wakefield author.'^^ Professor Cady,'-^ however, believes that the original play was composed in the twelve-line strophe form, and that the couplets represent a later revision. Professor Gayley,^^* on the other hand, argues that the couplets represent the older play, asserting that the final reviser, "our Wakefield master has not only added the last two stanzas in his favorite form, but has probably lent spice to the first seven." He thinks that the "' Cf. Ch p. 41. thy brothers bloode askes thee upon Vengeance, as faste as it can, From earth to me cryinge. "• Cf. Ch p. 42. Naye, Cayme, thou shalte not dye sone. »" See Smith, ibid. 35, 37, and intro. xv. "' Cady, ibid. JRGP 10:573 ff. '" Pollard, ibid, intro. xxii; Gayley, ibid. 165-66; Bunzen, ibid. 42 ff. >" Cady, ibid. JRGP 10:573. "♦ Gayley, ibid. 186; also in Internal. Quar. 12:86. THE YORK AND TOWNELEY CYCLES 95 playwright left "the other stanzas much as they were," but "heightened the characterization of Cain and his boy, enriched their speech with proverbs, and made of Abel something other than the milksop presented in the earlier cycles." It is, then, evident that the Towneley play is the work of at least two different writers, whose general method, style, and metrical form differ considerably. Humorous passages occur only in the twelve- or thirteen- line strophes, the rime coitee, and the irregular couplets, whereas the serious action of the play is developed in the couplets which are, for the most part, regular in metre and rhyme. With the exception of two episodes, the failure of Cain's sacrifice to burn and God's curse upon Cain, the incidents occurring in the regular couplets form the framework of the play. (1) Lines 68-77. Abel exhorts Cain to come with him and make burnt oflFerings of a tenth of his cattle and corn. (2) Lines 91-96. Cain refuses to leave his plough and "work for God" who has given him only sorrow and woe. (3) Lines 167-223. Abel finally prevails upon Cain to make the sacrifice. Abel tithes his shares first, lights them and humbly prays God to accept them. Then Cain begins his tithing, but offers his poorest corn and miscounts them. Abel remonstrates, but to no avail. (4) Lines 311-27. Cain kills Abel with a cheek-bone. On the other hand, additions to the fundamental incidents or elabora- tions of them occur in the twelve- or thirteen-line strophes, the rime coiiee, and the irregular couplets. (1) Lines 1-36. Cain, introduced by a ranting speech of the Garcio, enters with his plough, and rails at his horse as "the worse mare" he ever had. (2) Lines 37-56. A scene of wrangling between Cain and the Garcio. (3) Lines 57-67. Abel, entering, greets Cain, but is ill-received. (4) Lines 78-90; 97-166. Repetition and elaboration occur in connection with Cain's unwillingness to make the sacrifice and Abel's exhortations to him. (5) Lines 224-310. The false tithing on the part of Cain, and Abel's remonstrance are elaborated upon. In connection with this scene, God reproves Cain who, in turn, is impudent. (6) Lines 355-77. God, appearing to Cain, utters the curse, and Cain, lament- ing, wishes to be buried in "Gudeboure."^-^ (7) Lines 378-473. Wishing to bury the body, Cain calls the Garcio, but is forced to give him a proclamation of pardon in order to insure his silence concerning the murder. Then Cain curses him, puts him to work with the plough, and bidding the spectators farewell, says he must betake himself to hell. We may, then, conclude that the original play, perhaps the one present in the parent cycle, was composed in couplets, which was later revised by a writer who not only stressed the comic possibilities of the old scenes, but invented additional episodes, especially in connection with the Garcio. 1^' Refers to Gudeboure Close in Wakefield. See Peacock, op. cil. Anglia 24:509 £f. Chambers, op. cit. 2:415. 96 MARIE C. LYLE Still another criterion might be applied in the attempt to distinguish the remains of the earlier play from the later revision; namely, the two different spellings of the name Cain, — "Cam" and "Cayme," — which are found in the text of the play. In general, the spelling "Cam" is used in the parts which, upon stylistic grounds, appear to be of earlier origin, whereas the spelling "Ca^^me" appears in the parts which seem to indicate a later revision.'-^ Abraham and Isaac The York and Towneley plays of Abraham and Isaac show certain points of similarity, which are not found in the other English plays : (1) In his soliloquy at the beginning of the play, Abraham speaks of his age as being a hundred years. Compare T 11. 9-10 and 38 with Y 11. 1 and 6 for verbal simi- larities. Mercy, lord omnipotent! long syn he this world has wroght. Grett god, J^at alle pis world has wrought, An hundreth yens, certis, haue I seyne. A hundereth wynter to fulfille. (2) God decides to test Abraham's faith. (3) Abraham accepts God's command cheerfully. Compare T 11. 76, 81 and Y 11. 75, 103 for verbal similarities, not found in the other plays. ffor certis thi bidyng shal he done. God wille Jiis dede he done. This commaundement must I nedis/w/- Goddis commaundement to fulfille. fill. (4) The York and Towneley plays include the two servants who lead the ass laden with wood for the sacrifice. Save for Dublin, none of the other plays mention servants. (5) Only York and Towneley mention the length of time required for the journey, three days, and the name of the destination, Mt. Vision. (6) The reference at the close of the York play to Rebecca may be evidence of the existence of a complete Abraham-family group in the parent cycle, as in the extant Towneley cycle. This reference appears to be significant, because none of the other plays look forward to a possible continuation of the group. (7) The following similarity in phraseology is especially significant, with the retention of the two rhyme words, bowne and towne. Compare T 11. 129-32 and Y 11. 113-17. luke thou be bowne; Att youre biddyng we wille be bowne, Sot certan, son, thi self and I, What way in worlde t)at 5e wille wende. wetwomust now weyndfurth oi towne, Why, sail we trusse ought forthe a towne In far country to sacrifie. In any vncouthe lande to lende? The revision of the York play in the Northern Septenar^^? jg sufficient to explain the slightness of the resemblance between the two plays. Prob- iM Suggested by Professor Manly. »' See above, ch. 11, p. 44 fiE. THE YORK AND TOWNELEY CYCLES 97 ably the Northern Septenar playwright considered the pitiful pleadings of the Isaac, usually portrayed in the mysteries,^^^ undignified, if not sac- rilegious. Isaac is, therefore, portrayed as a prototype of Christ, and consequently all reference to natural fears or misgivings, which might be construed as unbecoming, are consistently excluded. Nor is Abraham portrayed as a father torn between two great emotions, the feeling of parental love and the feeling of religious duty. The mother motif, given a prominent position in the other plays, is omitted, perhaps for the same reason. The Towneley play may be an adaptation of an earlier York play, later discarded, as suggested by Professor Gayley.^^^ It may even be the earlier York play itself, but the presence of four couplets in the midst of the double quatrains seem rather to point to a still earlier play. Since the two plays immediately following it, Isaac and Jacob, supposed to be the earliest section of the cycle, ^^^ are composed in couplets, it is possible to suggest that the parent cycle may have contained a complete Abraham- family group in couplets. ^^^ Mr. Hugenin,^^- following Professor Davidson's theory^^^ that a couplet editor worked over the Towneley cycle, concludes that the couplets in the Abraham play are a later interpolation from the Viel Testament, ^^^ suggested by the mention of Adam in two of the double quatrain passages. ^^° Because of the references in double quatrains, however, it seems likely that the couplets represent, not a later interpolation, but the remains of an earlier play, and that the original couplet version contained three references to Adam, two of which underwent revision in quatrains, while the third remained intact in its original couplet form; or it may be, that the quatrain passages in question represent an elaboration of the couplets. The Scourging or Condemnation The twenty-second Towneley play, the Scourging, corresponds to two plays in the York cycle, the Condemnation and On the Way to Calvary. The practical identity of the incidents connected with On the Way to Calvary indicates the existence of a parent play which in its account of the Con- demnation underwent revision in both cycles. The Towneley version of "s Cf. Viel Testament, Chester, Towneley, Brome, and Dublin plays. '-' Gayley, op. cit. 134, n. 1. See also Pollard, op. cit. xxvi. "0 Ten Brink, op. cit. 2:244; 3:274. 131 Because of the presence of the same type of couplets in the Fall of the Angels and Cain and Abel, it is even possible that originally the whole Old Testament group was composed in couplets. "2 Hugenin, An Interpolation in the Towneley Abraham Play, Mod. Lang. Notes 14:256. 133 Davidson, op. cit. 130 and Cady, op. cit. JEGP 10:579 believe these couplets are editorial. 13* Viel Testament, ed. Rothschild. 135 xhe passages in question are Abraham's monologue, where two stanzas are devoted to him, and line 61, where Adam's name is again mentioned. 98 MARIE C. LYLE the Condemnation, composed in the characteristic metre of the Wakefield writer, and the York play, in a twelve-line alliterative stanza rhyming ababbcbcdccd, are clearly the result of late revisions'^" which were so thorough-going, that although it is possible to trace a similarity in under- lying structure, none remains in phraseology.'" This situation is ex- plained, in large part, by the fact that the York play in its revision intro- duced certain incidents from the Gospel of Nicodemus, as the bowing of the standards, Pilate's forced obeisance to Jesus, and the suggestion that the high priests judge Jesus. The York play, stripped of these incidents, assumes an outline which corresponds more nearly, not only to the extant Towneley play, but also to the earlier form of the York play as described by Burton in the 1415 list.'38 The Towneley Pilate's pretence of befriending Jesus and the York Pilate's perception of the "hideousness" of the accusations are not incon- sistent with the theory of an original identity of the two plays, for they are but manifestations of the difference in the characterization of Pilate already noted in the case of other plays. '^^ Fifth Group of Plays It is impossible to make a complete comparison of the Purification, because of the fragmentary condition of the Towneley manuscript at this point. In the portion remaining, Professor Cady'^" traces a similarity in underlying structure. Because of the addition of Anna and the clerks, he suggests that the York play is later. This conclusion is borne out by its con- fused metre and by its late entry in the register, in 1558.'^' The Towneley play, composed in the rime couee, represents apparently an early stage in the Towneley cycle. '^^ "^he few points of similarity in structural outlines may be due to derivation from a common source, or it may be that this play was not present in the parent cycle. Sixth Group of Plays It now remains to discuss the plays which are contained in only one of the cycles. Of the six Towneley plays not now included in York, two, the Hanging oj Judas and the Talents, are subjects of older York plays"^ i3« See Gayley, op. cit. 154 and 161; Pollard, op. cit, intro. xxii; Bunzen, op. cit. 14 ff.; and below, p. 101. '" See above, chart, ch. I, p. 20-22. "8 See Smith, op. cit. intro. xxv; and above, ch. II, p. 32. 1" See above, ch. II, p. 44 ff. and p. 78. i«o Cady, op. cit. PMLA 24:4S6. '" See Smith, op. cit. intro. xv. '" Pollard, op. cit. intro. xxiii f.; Gayley, op. cit. 161. "•See 1415 Burton list. Smith, op. ct7. intro. xix £E.; undated Burton list, Davies op. cit. app. 233; 1422 record. Mem. Bk., Sur. Soc. 120:155; Riley, Hist. MS. Report 1:109. THE YORK AND TOWNELEY CYCLES 99 and may, therefore represent the parent form. Two of the plays, Isaac and Jacob, are composed in couplets and the other two, the Prophetae and Octavian in the rime couee, metres which we believe were used to some extent b}- the parent cj^cle.^'*'* The omission of these plays from the extant York cycle may have been due to the crafts which repeatedly discarded plays because they grew tired of them or were unable to support them.^'*^ The omission of plays in the Towneley cycle may be explained, in part, by gaps in the manuscript. The gap of twelve pages near the beginning accounts for the loss of most of the Temptation oj Adam and Eve and Their Fall, as well as the Expulsion }^^ The gap of twelve pages near the end of the manuscript probably explains the loss of the pla}^ on the Descent of the Holy Ghost and perhaps also one or two Mary plays. Again, it is possible that certain plays once forming a part of the Towne- ley cycle were not copied in the manuscript with the others. Since the two extant trial plays, the Examination before Caiaphas and the Final Con- demnation by Pilate, ^^"^ occur in the characteristic metre of the Wakefield writer, Professor Cady^'*^ suggests that the intermediate trial scenes, the First Trial before Pilate and the Trial before Herod,^"^^ were dropped because "the superior interest of the Wakefield scenes crowded out other less interesting matter." Whether this be the actual reason for the omissions or not, it is impossible to say, but certainly such intermediate plays did exist at one time, because of references to them in the extant plays. ^^° The Preliminary Trial before Pilate is referred to in the scene of the Capture where Caiaphas bids the soldiers take Jesus to Pilate: Now sen he is welle bett, weynd on youre gate, And tell ye the forfett vnto sir Pylate.^" The Trial before Herod is referred to in the Final Condemnation before Pilate where one of the soldiers tells Pilate of his coming before Herod: I haue ron that I swett from sir herode oure kyng With this man that wille not lett oure lawes to downe bryng.^^- Whether the absence of a Nativity play in the Towneley cycle is to be ascribed to the loss of a play originally forming a part of the cycle, or whether the cycle never contained such a play, is more difficult to determine. Professor Cady^^^ offers a similar suggestion to that for the intermediate "«See above, pp. 56 ff., 68 ff.. 71 ff., 75 ff., 79 ff., 93 ff. i« See below, ch. V, p. 105 ff. »*• See Pollard, op. cit. 9, n. 1" Towneley Plays XXI and XXII. "8 Cady. op. cil. PMLA 24:441 and Mod. Phil. 10:589. 1*9 These two scenes correspond to York plays XXX, XXXI, and perhaps XXXII. 150 Hohlfeld, op. cit. Anglia 11:297 called attention to these. 151 Pollard, op. cit. 242, 11. 424-25. 15= Loc. cit. 244, 11. 53-54. 153 Cady, op. cit. PMLA 24:441. 100 MARIE C. LYLE trial scenes, namely, that the greater interest taken in the productions of the Wakefield author, in this case the two Shepherds' plays, caused the dropping of the Nativity. In certain cases, plays occurring in York but lacking in Towneley may be regarded as later insertions in the York cycle. Probably such plays as the Temptation, the Woman Taken in Adultery, and the Transfiguration were later additions. ^^'^ The extant records of the crafts responsible for Pilate^s Wife's Dream, as well as the Temptation, point to the later incor- poration of these plays.^^^ Undoubtedly, the Mary plays also represent a more extended separation and expansion at a late period in the development of the York cycle.^^® Conclusion Thus, certain similarities, not occurring in the other English cycles, are found in all the corresponding plays of York and Towneley, save one, the Purification. Because of the practical identity of five plays and the greater part of the sixth, there can be no question about the possibility of an original identity. These plays, it should be noted, do not appear in a single group or section of the cycle, but are scattered throughout, one play appearing in each of the four cyclic groups, the Pharaoh in the Old Testament, the Doctors in the Nativity, the Bearing of the Cross in the Passion, and the Resurrection proper in the Resurrection group. The Harrowing of Hell forms the connecting link between two of the groups, and the Last Judg- ment serves as the conclusion for the entire cycle. These plays, escaping revision,^^^ indicate, we believe, the relation originally existing in the two cycles, while the remaining plays, undergoing revisions, retain only in slighter degrees, traces of the original identity. Development of the Towneley Cycle With slight modifications, the general theory concerning the probable development of the Towneley cycle^^^ is in keeping with the theory of an original identity of York and Towneley. The three stages pointed out by Mr. Pollard^^^ become, according to our theory, two stages. The early religious group of plays and the so-called York "borrowings" represent, we believe, the parent-cycle stage, and the work of the Wakefield author independent revisions in the Towneley cycle. Instead of an independent Towneley cycle, then, which incorporated certain York plays, we have extant in Towneley a part of the parent cycle in Mr. Pollard's so-called '" See above, ch. II, p. 46. iM See below, ch. V, p. 107. iM See below, ch. V, p. 106. "' The revisions in these plays are very slight. "• Pollard, op. cil. intro. xxvii; Gayley, op. cit. 161 ff. '" Loc. cit. THE YORK AND TOWNELEY CYCLES 101 first and second groups. So far as the development of the Towneley cycle is concerned, there is no real difference between these two groups of plays, save that the first group probably represents an earlier stage in the develop- ment of the parent cycle than does the second group. So far as the theory of an original identity of York and Towneley is concerned, the only dif- ference between these two groups of plays is that the plays in the first group either were, as we have seen, dropped from the York cycle or under- went revision there, while the plays in the second group remained practically unchanged. For our present purpose it is not necessary to determine the number of successive revisions through which the plays of the Towneley cycle passed, or the order in which these revisions occurred. It will be sufficient to refer to the evidence already presented which appears to indicate that the couplets and perhaps also some of the quatrains, are a survival of the parent-cycle stage. ^^^ On the other hand, the Wakefield author wrote after the separation of the two cycles. ^^^ 160 See especially the situation in the Last Supper, above, p. 79 ff. 161 See especially the situation in the Agony and Betrayal, above, p. 81 £F. Accepting Mr. Pollard's three stages. Professor Cady, (op. oil. JEGP 10:573 ff. and Mod. Phil. 10:599) argues that since editorial couplets do not occur in connection with the group of "direct York borrowings," but do in the other two groups, that the York borrowings were the latest addition to the Towneley cycle. But later (pp. 576-78) he invalidates this argument when he admits that in one case editorial couplets do appear in connection with the "York borrowings." Mrs. Frank {op. cit. Mod. Phil. 15:181 ff.) shows the improbability of his theory. CHAPTER V THE PROBABLE DATE OF SEPARATION The theory of an original identity of the York and Towneley cycles naturall}'' calls for some consideration of the probable date of their separa- tion. For this, vce are dependent entirely upon the craft records of York during the fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth centuries,^ since no records for the Townele}'- cycle are extant. On the basis of these records, Davies^ and Miss Smith^ conclude that the Corpus Christi plays had existed in York many years previous to the end of the fourteenth century. The records of this period show that each craft had its assigned pageant to which members contributed, and that there existed a certain number of stations before which the plays were given. Even at that early date, the cycle had attained some fame outside the city portals, for King Richard II graced them with his presence in 1397. From the two Burton lists,* the Register, and other documents. Miss Smith draws certain conclusions regarding the relation between the crafts and the Corpus Christi plays. "As business grew," she says, "a new craft would spring up, an old one decay and become too poor to produce its play, a new one must take its share; one craft trenching on the trade of another must share its burdens, sometimes two, or even three plays would be combined into one, sometimes a play would be laid aside and the craft to which it had been assigned must join in producing some other. "^ The recent publication of the complete text of the York Memorandum Book^ makes it possible to gain more definite information concerning the actual conditions underlying the presentation of Corpus Christi plays under gild control. A detailed study of the rise of new crafts, of the decay of old ones, and of the combination of two or more, is a study of the rise and development of the Corpus Christi cycle. This is because each play was assigned to different crafts, which, from yescc to year, were responsible for the support and production of their respective pageants. In this way, plays came to be identified with certain gilds, and at least one case is re- corded in which the gild is known by the nam.e of the play for which it was I Liher diversorum memorandorum Civilatem Ebor. tangenlitim, beginning with 1376, has been published recently by Miss Maud Sellers for the Surtees Society, volumes 120 and 125, entitled the York Memorandum Book. Certain extracts from these records were previously published by Drake in his Eboracum, Davies in Municipal Records of the City of York, Miss Smith in her introduction to the York Mystery Plays, and Riley in the Historical Manuscript Reports Commission 1:109. ' Davies, ibid. app. » Miss Smith, ibid, intro. xix ff. * 1415 list printed by Miss Smith, ibid, intro. xix fi.; undated list by Davies, ibid. app. 233 ff. ' Smith, ibid, intro. xix. • Ibid. 120 and 125, ed. by Miss Sellers. THE YORK AND TOWNELEY CYCLES 103 responsible. The Carpenters' Gild which produced the Resurrection is referred to as "the holy fraternite of the Resurrection."" The earliest records point to a still earlier period for organization of the Corpus Christi cycle. A record of 1376 refers to the storage of Corpus Christi pageants. ^ The places at which the performances were given are referred to in 1394 as antiquitus assignalis.^ In 1378, certain fines incurred by the Bakers were paid, half to the city chamber, half a la pagine des ditz Pestoiirs de cor pore cristi}'^ A record of 1388 mentions a donation of a hundred shillings to be used for "furnishing four torches to be burnt in the procession on the feast of Corpus Christi. "^^ Other crafts, mentioned before the end of the fourteenth century in connection with the payment of certain sums towards the support of Corpus Christi pageants, are the Plasterers (1390),i2 the Cardmakers (1397?),i3 the Cordwainers (1393 ?),i^ the Bowers ( 1 395), ^Hhe Fletchers (1388?)/' the Lyttesters (1390-1400?),!^ the Glasiers (or Verrours, 1394),i8 the Sadlers ({398),^' and the Tailors (1386).2o Just when the York gilds assumed control of the Corpus Christi cycle, we do not know. It is difficult to determine what was meant by "ancient" in the 1394 record, already referred to, but Miss Smith's conclusion that the cycle originated as early as 1340-50 may well be correct. The Cam- bridge reference of 1350 to Corpus Christi plays,^! as well as the Chester ' Ibid. 125:intro. xxxviii. 8 Ibid. 120:10. Two shillings were charged de uno tenemento, in quo tres pagine Corporis Christi po- nuntur, per annum. 9 Davies, ibid. app. 230. Smith, ibid, intro. xxxii. In 1399, the Verrours complained that the plays of Corpus Christi day were not performed as they should be, because they were given in too many places; it was therefore ordained that the number of sta- tions should be limited to twelve. See Davies, ibid. app. 231; Smith, ibid, intro. xxxii; Sur. Soc. 120:50. 1" Smith, ibid, intro. xxxi. Ibid. 120:169. Here, the record is undated. " Davies, ibid. app. 230. i^- Ibid. 120:115. ^i Ibid. 120:78-79. This date is determined by the dates of the enrollment of the members. Miss Sellers (.op. cit. 78, n. 3) has identified from the freemen's list certain of the masters mentioned in the ordinance; the earliest of the dates of enrollment being possibly 1368, the latest 1397. i* Ibid. 120:72-74. This date is determined by the dates of the enrollment of the masters. Miss Sellers (op. cit. 72, n. 5) identifies from the freemen's list 51 of the 59 masters: the earliest of the dates being 1356, the latest 1393. i^Ibid. 120:52-54. >6 Ibid. 120:110. Isti const iluciones composite fuerunt in die Lucie virginis anno xii (December 13, 1388?) is written at the top of the right-hand corner, according to Miss Sellers (n. 6, p. 110). iT Ibid. 120:112. According to Miss Sellers (n. 2, p. 112), these enactments, judging from the dates of the enrollment on the freemen's list, "belong to the last decade of the fourteenth century." ^^ Ibid. 120:50-52. Davies, op. cu. app. 231-32 dates the ordinance concerning the stations at which Corpus Christi plays are given as 1394. »«/6iianic Phi- ^ lology 11:244. Cambridge history of English literature. Edited by A. W. Ward and others. New York and Cambridge. 1910. Volumes I, II, V. Chambers, E. K. The medieval stage. 2 volumes. Oxford. 1903. ^ Chester plays. Edited by Thomas Wright. 2 volumes. London. 1843. Plaj'-s 1-13. Edited by H. Deimling. Early English Text Society 62. London. 1903. Clarke, S. W. The miracle play in England: an account of the early religious drama. London. CoBLENTZ, H. E. Rime-index to the York parent cycle. Publications Modern Language Association 10:487. Some suggested rime emendations. Modern Language Notes 10:77. Collier, J. P. The history of English dramatic poetry. London. 1831. Five old plays. London. 1851. CoMESTOR, P. Historia scholastica. In Migne's Patrologia Latina. Paris. 1844. Cook, A. S. A remote analogue to the miracle play. Journal of English and Ger- i^ manic Philology 4:420. CouRTHOPE, W. J. A history of English poetry. 6 volumes. New York and London. 1895-1910. CoussEMAKER, Edmond. Drames liturgiques du moyen age. Paris. 1871. Craig, Hardin. Two Coventry Corpus Christi plays. Early English Text Society 87, extra series. London. 1902. The origin of the Old Testament plays. Modern Philology 10:473."^ "^ The Corpus Christi procession and the Corpus Christi play. Journal of English and Germanic Philology 13. no BIBLIOGRAPHY Craigie, W. a. The Gospel of Nicodemus and the York mystery plays. Furnivall Miscellany. Oxford. 1901. Creizenach, W. Geschichte des neueren Dramas. Second edition. Halle. 1911. Cron, Berthold. Zur Entwicklungsgeschichte der englischen Misterien alten Testaments. Marburg Dissertation. 1913. Cursor mundi. Early English Text Society 57, 69, 101, 59, 62, 66, 68. Edited by R. Morris. London. 1874-93. Davidson, Charles. Studies in the English mystery plays. Yale Dissertation. Transactions of Connecticut Academy of Sciences 9:1. Concerning English mystery plays. Modern Language Notes 7:339. Davies, Robert. Extracts from the municipal records of the city of York of the fifteenth century. London. 1843. Digby plays. Edited by F. J. Furnivall. Early English Text Society 70. London. 1890. DoDSLEV, Robert. A select collection of Old English plays. Edited by Hazlitt. London. 1874-76. Drake, Franxis. Eboracum. London. 1836. Du Meril, E. p. Origines latines du theatre moderne. 1849. Facsimile reprint. Leipzig. 1897. Ebert, a. Allgemeine Geschichte der Literatur des Mittelalters im Abendlande 3. Leipzig. 1880-89. Die Englischen ]\Iysterien. Jahrbuch fiir romanische und englische Literatur 1. 1859. Emerson, O. F. The legends of Cain. Publications Modern Language Association 21:831. Foster, F. A. See also Northern Passion. The mystery plays and the Northern Passion. Modern Language Notes 26:169-71. A study of the Northern Passion and its relation to the cycle plays. Bryn Mawr dissertation. London and Bungay. 1914. French, John. A note on the miracle plays. Modertt Language Notes 19:31. Froning, R. Das Drama des Mittelalters. In Kurschner, Deutsche National- Literatur 14, 3 parts. Stuttgart. 1891. Furnivall miscellany. An English miscellany presented to Dr. Furnivall in honor of his seventy-fifth birthday. Oxford. 1901. Gayley, C. M. Plays of our forefathers. New York. 1907. Representative English comedies. 3 volumes. New York. 1907-14. The earlier miracle plays of England. International Quarterly 10:108. The later miracle plays of England. International Quarterly 12:67. Gerould. Moll of the Prima Pastorum. Modern Language Notes 19:225. Gross, Charles. The gild-merchant. Oxford. 1890, Guest, Edwin. History of English rhythms. Edited by W. W. Skeat. London. 1882. Hall, Joseph. The York plays. Englische Studien 9 ■A'^9. Halliwell, J. 0. See Ludus Coventriae. The romance of the Emperor Octavian. Percy Society. London. 1844. Hazlitt- Warton. A history of English poetry. 4 volumes. 1871, Hemingway, S. B. English nativity plays. New York. 1909. Herttrich, O. Studien zu den York Plays. Breslau Dissertation, 1886. Hesslers. Evangelium Nikodemi. Beitrage, Paul und Braunes 24:85. Helm. V BIBLIOGRAPHY 111 HiBBERT, F. A. The influence and development of English gilds as illustrated by the history of craft gilds of Shrewsbury. Historical manuscripts commission reports, 1, 109. London. 1874. HoHLFELD, A. Die altenglischen KoUektivmysterien. A nglia 11:219. Two Old English mystery plays on the subject of Abraham's sacrifice. Modern Language Notes 5:222. HoLTHAUSEN, F. Beitrage zur Erklarung und Textkritik dcr York Plays. Archiv fur das Sludium der neuern Sprachen 85:411. Nachtrag zu den Quellen der York Plays. Herrig's Archiv 86:280. Noah's ark, or the shipwright's ancient play or dirge. 1897. Hone, William. Ancient mysteries described. London. 1823. HoRSTMANN, C. Sammlung altenglischen Legenden. Heilbron. 1881. Kaluza, Max. Englische Metrik in historischer Entwicklung. Berlin. 1909. Kamann, p. Uber Quellen und Sprache der York Plays. Leipzig Dissertation. 1887. AngUa 10:189. Kretzmann, P. E. The liturgical ejement in the earliest forms of the medieval Drama. Minnesota Dissertation. Minneapolis. 1916. Jenney, Adeline M. A further word as to the origin of the Old Testament plays. Modern Philology 13:59. Klein, J. L. Geschichte des Dramas, 3, 12, 13: Das englische Drama. Leipzig. 1876. KoLBiNG, E. Beitrage zur Erklarung und Textkritik der York Plays. Englische Studien 20:179. — • On Pollard's miracle plays. Englische Shidien 16:279. . KoRTiNG, G. Grundrisz der Geschichte der englischen Literatur. Third edition 1899. Lange, Carl. Die lateinischen Osterfeiern. Miinchen. 1887. Leach, A. F. Some English plays and players. Furnivall Miscellany. Oxford. 1901. Lincoln statutes (statutes of Lincoln Cathedral). Arranged by H. Bradshaw; edited by C. Wordsworth. 2 volumes. 1892-97. Ludus Coventriae or Coventry mysteries. Edited by J. O. Halliwell. London. 1841. LuiCK, K. Zur Textkritik der Spiele von York. Anglia 22:384. Manly, J. M. Specimens of pre-Shakespearean drama. 2 volumes. Boston and London. 1897. Marriott, William. English miracle plays and mysteries collected. Basel. 1838. Middle English Harrowing of Hell and Gospel of Nicodemus. Edited by W. H. Hulme. Early English Text Society 100, extra series. MiGNE, J. P. Patrologia Latina. 221 volumes. Paris. 1844. MoNE, F. J. Deutsche Schauspicle des Mittelalters. Karlsruhe. 1846. Moore, E. English miracle plays and moralities. London. 1907. Norris, E. Ancient Cornish drama. 2 volumes. Oxford. 1859. Non-cycle mystery plays. Edited by Waterhouse. Early English Text Society 104, extra series. Northern Passion. Edited by F. A. Foster. Early English Text Society 145 and 147. London. 1914. Norwich plays: the grocer's play. Edited by R. Fitch. Norwich. 1856. Paul, H. Grundrisz der germanischen Philologie. Strassburg. 1891-93. Peacock, M. H. The Wakefield mysteries: the place of representation. Anglia 24:509. Pollard, A. W. See Towneley mysteries. 112 BIBLIOGRAPHY Pollard, A. W. English miracle plays, moralities, and interludes. Oxford. 1890. Saintsbury, G. E. a history of English prosody. London and New York. 1906. ScHiPPER, Jakob. Altenglische Metrik. Bonn. 1881. Sharp, Thomas. On the pageants or dramatic mysteries anciently performed at Coventry. Coventry. 1825. See Digbj^ pla^J's. Skeat, W. W. Joseph of Arimathea. Athenaeum 11:779. Smith, Lucy Toulmin. See the York plays. Play of Abraham and Isaac. Anglia 7:316. Smith, Toulmin. The English gilds. Early English Text Society ^Q. London. 1870. Spencer, M. L. Corpus Christi pageants in England. New York. 1911. Stoddard, F. H. References for students of miracle plays and mysteries. University of California Library Bulletin, no. 8. 18S7. Story of Genesis and Exodus. Edited by Morris. Early English Text Society 7. SwENSON, E. L. An inquiry into the composition and structure of Ludus Coven- triae. University of Minnesota. Minneapolis. 1914. Surtees Society. The correspondence of Dr. Mattew Hutton, Archbishop of York. Edited by Raine. Vol. 17. Manuale et processionale ad usum insignis ecclesiae eboracensis. Edited by Henderson. Vol. 63. Register of the freemen of the City of York. Vols. 96 and 102. Register of the guild of Corpus Christi in the city of York. Edited bj^ R. H. Skaife. Vol. 57. Testamenta eboracensia. Wills illustrative of the historj^ manners, language, statistics, etc. of the province of York from 1300 downwards. Edited by Raine. Vols. 4, 26, 30, 45, 53, 79, 106. Towneley mysteries. Vol. 3. York breviary. Edited b}?^ S. Lawley. Vols. 71, 75. York memorandum book. Edited by M. Sellers. Vols. 120 and 125. York missal. Edited by Henderson. Vols. 59, 60. York pontifical. Edited by Henderson. Vol. 61. Taylor, George C. An EngHsh Planctus Mariae. Modern Philology 4:605. Relation of the English Corpus Christi play to the Middle English lyric. Modern Philology 5:1-38. Ten Brink, Bernhard. History of English literature. Translated by L. D. Schmitz. New York. 1893-96. Towneley mysteries. Edited by Pollard. Early English Text Society 71, extra series. London. 1SQ7. Surtees Society Publications. London. 1836. Child, The second shepherds' play. Boston. 1910. Hemingway, English nativity plays, prints plays 10, 11, 12, 13. Manly, Specimens of pre-Shakespearean drama, prints plays 3, 5, 6, 13. Marriott, English miracle plays, prints plays 8, 13, 23, 25, 30. Cook reader, prints play 13. Athenaeum 11:284, prints play 24. Shakespeare Jahrbuch, prints play 24. Smith, York plays, prints plays 8, 18, 25, 26, 30, for comparison with York. Everyman with other interludes, prints inlays 13, 23, 25 (modern rendering). In Everyman Library. 1909. Pollard, English miracle plays, prints play 13. BIBLIOGRAPHY 113 Collier, Five miracle plays, prints play 13. London. 1836. Douce, Roxborough Club, prints play 30. 1822. Matzner, Altenglische Sprachprobcn, 1, prints play 3. Zupitza, tibungsbuch, prints play 3. Valke, Der Tod dcs Abel. Leipzig. 1875. Tr.wer, Hope. The relation of musical terms in the Woodkirk shepherds' play to the date of their composition. Modern Language Notes 20:1. Ungemach, H. Die Quellcn der fiinf Chester Plays. Erlangen. 1890. Utesch, Hans F. Die Quellen der Chester Plays. Dissertation Kiel. 1909. ' Van der Graf. Miracles and mysteries in southeastern Yorkshire. Englische Sludien 34:228. Vicl Testament, Le mystcre du. Edited by J. de Rothschild and E. Picot. Sociele des anciens lexlcs frangaises. 6 volumes. Paris. 1878-91. "YW Victoria history of the counties of England. Vol. 3 deals with Yorkshire. Edited by W. Page. London. 1913. "^7* Ward, A. W. History of English dramatic literature. London. 1875. Second edition. 3 volumes. 1899. "^^Wells, John E. A manual of the writings in Middle English. New Haven and London. 1916. ^York mystery plays. '^ Edited by Miss Lucy Toulmin Smith from the Ashburnham Manuscript. Oxford. 1885. Skryvencr's pagent: the incredulity of Thomas, published by Collier, Camden Miscellany, 4, and by Croft in Excerpta Antiquae. Play 14 in Cook reader. {) ■?■■ A '* Plays 12, 13, 14, 15 in Hemingway, English nativity plays. Plays 38, 48 in Manly 's specimens 1. >7>- Play 1 in Pollard's English miracle plays. Note on the Manuscript in Academy 530:9. 1822. "ff.'Sv Zupitza, Julius. The York plays. Deutsche Literatur Zeitung 6:1304. Berlin. 1880. RiTU^ TO : due "» *%'^WA «o^«S?».e recaU. ^?a«°«>""« (0 J C. BERKELEY LIBRARIES <:D31Eb3M7M •*j