End of Europe's Middle Ages The Crucifixion The performance of a cycle of mystery plays in York, England can be documented from the late fourteenth century although they had probably been performed for some time before. The production and staging of the plays was the responsiblity of the various craft guilds of the town. A list of the plays and guilds responsible for the production of each was drawn up in 1415 and the texts of forty-five plays were written down between 1463 and 1477. Records of performances indicate that the plays were performed until at least 1569. The plays were performed on pageant wagons that followed a set route through the town, stopping for performance at twelve designated sites. Beginning at dawn and ending after midnight, the cycle was performed every year on the feast of Corpus Christi (which falls in May or June). The cycle of York (also spelled "Yorke") mystery plays covers the entire histroy of salvation, beginning with the Fall of the Angels and ending with the Last Judgement. The life of Christ is especially emphasized. This excerpt, written in Middle English, is from The Crucifixion of Christ. The Crucifixion of Christ Soldier 1 Thanne to this werke us muste take heede So that oure wirkying be noght wrange. Soldier 2 None othir noote to neven is nede, But latte us haste hyme for to hange. Soldier 3 And I have gone for gere goode speede, Bothe hammeres and nayles large and lange. Soldier 4 Thanne may we boldely do this ded; Commes on, late kille this traitoure strange! Soldier 1 Faire myght 'e fallen in feere That has wrought on this wise. Soldier 2 Us nedis nought for to lere Suche faitoures to chastise Soldier 3 Sen ilke a thyng es right arrayed, The wiselier nowe wirke may we. Soldier 4 The crosse on grounde is goodely graied And boorede even as it awith to be. Soldier 1 Lokis that the ladde on lenghe be layde and made me thane unto this tree. Soldier 2 For alle his fare he schalle be flaied; That one assaie sone schalle ye see. Soldier 3 Come forthe, thou cursed knave; Thy comfort sone schalle kele. Sodlier 4 Thyne hyre here schall thou have. Soldier 1 Walkes oon! Now wirke we wele. Jesus Almighty God, my fadir free, Late this materes be made in my mynde. Thout badde that I schulde buxsume be For Adam plyght for to be pyned. Here to dede I obblisshe me Fro that synne for to save mankynde And soveraynely beseke I the That thai for my may favoure fynde And fro the fende thame fende, So that ther saules be saffe In welthe withouten ende; I kepe nought ellis to crave. Soldier 1 We, here, sir knyghtis, for Mahoundis bloode! Of Adam kynde is all his thoght. Soldier 2 The warlowe waxis were than woode, This doulfull ded ne dedrith he noght. Soldier 3 Thou schulde have mynde, with mayne and moode, Of wikkid werkis that thou haste wrought. Soldier 4 I hope that he hadde bebe as goode Have sesed of sawes that he uppe-sought. Soldier 1 Thoo sawes schall rewe hym sare, For all his saunteryng sone. Soldier 2 Ille spede thame that hym spare Tille he to ded be done. Return to Language & Literature The End of Europe's Middle Ages / Applied History Research Group / University of Calgary Copyright © 1997, The Applied History Research Group