The York Mystery Plays, more properly the York Corpus Christi Plays, are a Middle English cycle of 48 mystery plays or pageants covering sacred history from the creation to the Last Judgment. They were traditionally presented on the feast day of Corpus Christi (a movable feast on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday, between 23 May and 24 June) and were performed in the city of York, from the mid-fourteenth century until their suppression in 1569. The plays are one of four virtually complete surviving English mystery play cycles, along with the Chester Mystery Plays, the Towneley/Wakefield plays and the N-Town plays. Two long, composite, and late mystery pageants have survived from the Coventry cycle and there are records and fragments from other similar productions that took place elsewhere. A manuscript of the plays, probably dating from between 1463 and 1477, is still intact and stored at the British Library.
Plays
There is no record of the first performance of the mystery plays, but they were recorded as celebrating the festival of Corpus Christi in York in 1376, by which time the use of pageant wagons had already been established. The plays were organised, financed and performed by the York Craft Guilds ("Mystery" is a play on words, representing a religious truth or rite, and its Middle English meaning of a trade or craft). The wagons were paraded through the streets of York, stopping at 12 playing stations, designated by the city banners.
The cycle uses many different verse forms, most have rhyme, a regular rhythm with fairly short lines and frequent alliteration. The balance of critical opinion is in favour of several clerics being responsible for their authorship, one of whom is conventionally known as the "York Realist". It comprises 48 pageants that were originally presented on carts and wagons dressed for the occasion. In some accounts there are as many as 56 pageants. They told stories from the Old and New Testaments, from the Creation to the Last Judgement. The plays continued after the Reformation when in 1548, the feast of Corpus Christi was abolished in England. The plays were accommodated in to the new religious orthodoxy by cutting scenes honouring the Virgin, but were suppressed in 1569.
Traditionally, an individual guild took responsibility for a particular play. Barkers (Tanners) – The creation, and the Fall of Lucifer Plasterers – The creation – to the Fifth Day Cardmakers – Creation of Adam and Eve Fullers (preparers of woollen cloth) – Adam and Eve in Eden Coopers (makers of wooden casks) – Fall of Man Armourers – Expulsion from Eden Glovers – Sacrifice of Cain and Abel Shipwrights – Building of the Ark Fishers and Mariners – Noah and his Wife Parchmenters and Bookbinders – Abraham and Isaac Hosiers – Departure of the Israelites from Egypt;Ten Plagues; Crossing the Red Sea Spicers – Annunciation and Visitation Pewterers and Founders – Joseph's trouble about Mary Tile-thatchers – Journey to Bethlehem, the Nativity of Jesus Chandlers (Candlemakers) – The Annunciation to the shepherds, the Adoration of the Shepherds Masons – Coming of the Three Kings to Herod Goldsmiths – Coming of the Kings: Adoration Marshals (Grooms) – Flight into Egypt Girdlers and Nailers – Massacre of the Innocents Spurriers and Lorimers (Spurmakers and makers of horse bits and bridles) – Christ with the Doctors Barbers – Baptism of Jesus Smiths – Temptation of Jesus Curriers (men who dress leather) – Transfiguration Capmakers – Woman Taken in Adultery; Raising of Lazarus Skinners – Jesus' entry into Jerusalem Cutlers – The conspiracy: Pilate, Annas, Caiaphas, Bargain of Judas Bakers – Last Supper Cordwainers (Shoemakers) – Agony, Betrayal and Arrest Bowyers and Fletchers – Denial of Peter; Jesus before Caiaphas Tapiters (makers of tapestry and carpets) and Couchers – Dream of Pilate's wife; Pilate's court Listers (Dyers) – Trial before Herod Cooks and Water-leaders – Second Accusation before Pilate; Remorse of Judas; Purchase of the Field of Blood Tilemakers – Second Trial before Pilate Shearman – Christ Led to Calvary Pinners (nailers), Painters and Latoners (lattensmiths; brass workers) – Crucifixion Butchers – Mortification of Christ; Burial Saddlers – Harrowing of Hell Carpenters – Resurrection Winedrawers – Christ's Appearance to Mary Magdalene Sledmen – Travellers to Emmaus Hatmakers, Masons, Labourers – Purification of Mary; Simeon and Anna Scriveners (Scribes) – Incredulity of Thomas Tailors – Ascension Potters – Descent of the Holy Spirit Drapers (Dealers in cloth and dry goods) – Death of Mary Weavers – Appearance of Mary to Thomas Ostlers (Stablemen) – Assumption and Coronation of the Virgin Mercers (Dealers in textiles) – Judgement Day