near, was of no small benefit therto; which pageants being acted with mighty state and reverence by the friers of this house, had theaters for the severall scenes, very large and high, placed upon wheels, and drawn to all the eminent parts of the city, for the better advantage of spectators: and contain'd the story of the New-Testament, composed into old English Rithme, as appeareth by an ancient MS. [in bibl. Cotton. sub effigie Vesp. D. 9.] intituled Ludus Corporis Christi, or Ludus Coventriæ. I have been told by some old people, who in their younger years were eye-witnesses of these pageants so acted, that the yearly confluence of people to see that shew was extraordinary great, and yielded no small advantage to this city."[1]—Dugdale's Antiquities of Warwickshire, fol. Lond. 1656, p. 116, col. 1.
I scarcely think, however, that this notice of the
- ↑ The reader will not perhaps be displeased to see this passage as it stands in the original MS. of Dugdale's work:—"Before the suppression of the monasteries, this cittye was very famous for the pageants that were play'd therein upon Corpus Christi day. These pageants were acted with mighty state and reverence by the fryers of this house, and conteyned the story of the New Testament which was composed into old English rime. The theatres for the severall scenes were very large and high; and, being placed upon wheeles, were drawne to all the eminent places of the cittye, for the better advantage of the spectators. In that incomparable library belonging to Sir Thomas Cotton, there is yet one of the bookes which perteyned to this pageant, entitled Ludus Corporis Christi, or Ludus Coventriæ. I myselfe have spoke with some old people who had, in their younger yeares, bin eyewitnesses of these pageants soe acted; from whom I have bin told that the confluence of people from farr and neare to see that shew was extraordinary great, and yielded noe small advantage to this cittye."
