Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1837-11-18
Theatrical Representations.

Ana said idaM ""o'9 - 80
Theatrical Eeprese nations.
The first trace OF theatrical representation IN Eng
land is recorded BY Matthew Paris, who wrote about
1910 and relates that Godfrey a learned Norman
master of the school of the abbey u Dunstable com
posed the play of 81. Cahonne, which was acted by
his scholars. Godfrey performance took place ~ The
wear l0 and he borrowed copies from The sacrst Of
the neighborins abbey of 81. Adams, TO dress his
characters. Fzstephcn Writing m liza, says that
"London, for its theatrical exhibitions, has religious
plays, either the representations n miracles Wrought
by holy c0nfessors the sul,Tlngs Of martyrs. BE
sides those Of Coventry there are MSS OF me Ches-
ter mysteries, ascrbed 10 Ranulph Higdcn, compiler
of the Polychroalcon, and Benedlctne monk 81 tlat
city, where they We're performed al the expense 81 he
incorporated trades with 4 thousand days OF parcon
from The pope and forty days pardon from the BIS
hop OF Chester, 10 all who attenfed the representa-
tion which is Supposed to have been iirst had IN the
year 1928
Al London, in the year 1856 the "Passion Of
Christ" was performed al the Grey frars, before the
Lord mayor, the privy council, and maay great es
tates Of the realm. In 1914 the same play was per
formed At The same place, on the day that war was
proclaimed in LONDON against EraAce; and IN that
year, the holiday Of 81. Olave, the patron Of the
church in silver street. dedicated TO that SAINT being
celebrated with great soemnity Al eight clock al
night play of the Miraculous l. e of St. O!ave,"
performed for four hours and concluded with
many religious plays Tie acting OF religious plays
experienced interruption during the reign Of Elizabeth
and occasionally at other periods. Malone thinks
that the last mystery represented IN England, was
James |. Prynne relates that il performed Al Ely
house, in Holborn when Gondomar, the Spanish
ambassador, lag there, Good Friday, night, and
that thousands Were present
In 1913 Phillip the Fair gave the most sumpuous
entertainment at Paris remembered III tina, city.
Edward IL and his Queen Isabella, crossed over from
Eng land with large retlnua Of nobility, and parook
of the magnificent festivities. The pomp and profit
sion of the banquengs the variety OF the amuse-
ments, and the splendour Of the costume Were un-
surpassed. On each Of the eight days the princess
and mobiles changed Their dresses three tunes; while
the people were sometimes entertained with represen-
taiions of the Cory of the blessed, at other times
with the torrnents of the damned, and various specta
cles In i02, by edct OF Charles vi. dated Dec.
4, the myse Of the conception, PASSION and resur-
recton of Christ, performed at ST. Maur about
five mi es from Paris. Al the council of constance,
in the year lil7 the English fathers played the mys-
terry of the of the Holy lnncents. The mys
terry of the passion PEI formed on the entrance
OF the kings OF France aud England al Paris. Dec.
lH20 in hesrect Kalends, before The palace. upona
raised scaff,ld OF one hundred PAGES in length.
In the Royal Library Of Paris, No 1850, IS lie
Mystere de la passion Jesus Christi; Paris, printed
by Antoine Verad, l49e folio This IS fine copy on
ve!um with every page richly Illuminated, and con
tanning NJ ). note IN French, purporung to be an
extract from old chronicle entitled Historic de
Metz yertable" whence il appears that its PERFORM
attended by many foreign lords and ladies',
whose names are specified, and that there were Ian
thorns placed in the windows during the whole Tune
OF the plays; but the most curioss part OF the III
note, that " in the year ll3I, on the 3rd OF July
represented the game play "dc la Passion
~ 81 in the plain of Vexmiel, when the park was
arranged in very noble manner for there were nine
ranges of seats height rising by degrees al around
and behind were great and long seats for the lords
and ladies' On the stage represented The mouth
OF hell i is described having been very well done,
for that il opened and shut VIXEN the devils required
10 enter and come out, and had two large eyes OF
steel"
The story Of lie Mystere du Chevalier qu donne
sa Femme au Diabe," played by ten persons IN 1905,
is OF dlsspated kNghi reduced by his prof gacy 10
distress and wckedness In his mlsfortunss the devil
appears, and proposes to make him rcser than ever,
II he Will assign his wife, that the dev may nave hef
in years. Alter some discussion the kngh con-
senls his promise is written out, and he signs with
his blood. The scduccr then stpuates that his VIC
tim shall deHy his God the knight stouy ressts Tor
time but in the end the devil gains his point, and
emboldened by success ventures TO propose that the
knight shall deny the Virgin Mary. Thls, however,
being still greater SIN, he refuses to commit II with
the utmost lndignity aud vchcmcncc, and the devil
walks off bafiled AT the end OF seven years, the pro-
mise being due the devil presents II 10 the knight, who,
considering il debt Of honor prepares dsch irge
Immediately He orders his wife 10 follow hlia TO
certain spot but her way she pcrceives church,
which after OBJ aiming her husbands permission she
enters for The purpose ofcfcring her devoion while
thus engaged, the Virgin Mary recolleclng the
knights unsulled allegiance TO her, assumes the sem
bance Of his wife, and IN that character JOINS hun.
The moment that they both appear before the devil, he
perceives who he mas to deal witn and upbralds the
unconscious knight for attempting 10 deceive him.
Inc knight protests MS ignorance ana MISUNDERSTANDING
which the Virgin corroborates by telling the devil II
was her own plan, for the rescue of two souls from
his power and she orders him to give up the knights
promise. lie of course obeys 50 high an authority
and runs off IN great terror. The Virgin exhorts the
knight better conduct in future, restores his wife 10
him, and The piece concludes.
In the repn of Francis J., 1874 the performance OF
grand mystery OF the Acts Of the Apostles" was
proclaimed with great soemuty, and acted at Par
for many days, before the nobility clergy
and large assemblage IN the Hotel de Flandres.
These plays written in French rhyme, by the BROTH
ers Greban printed in 2 vols. folio, black letter.
under letters patent of the king to William Aaba
merchant Of BSurges. The dramails persona, were
amuliitude Of celestial terrestrial and internal person.
ages, amounting altogether to four hundred and
eghty-ive characters. Though the scenes of these
plays were chiefly scrlpiural, yet many were horr
apochryphal story, and the whole exhibition was a
strange mixture OF sacred and proiane history.
RELreIoUs FAIns-The uses 10 which religious ie-
nets are applied during fairs ia catholic countries, are
excmplifed in the blowing anecdoie AT Lyons
we purchased caniicle in homer Of ST. Suare who
reproved the Deity for a mistake concerning a late
murler there and another city presented
with sermon literally in praise Of drunkenness, in
which every text Is quoted from the gospel, 10 pro-
mote the sale OF grapes during the wine harvest and
our blessed Saviour is absolutely represented as the
rcnl friend Of pubtcana and lock \