I've recently been spending a little time on a comparison of the Mummers Play with other dramatic forms.

As a sideline to this research, I spent a little more time looking at Church Ales, Ridings and Pageants from the 13th - 17th Centuries. As a result of this, I've discovered that over half the "pageants" had words to be spoken by the characters and many of them were in fact plays.

One pageant in particular attracted my attention. Here's a summary from WEBB, JOHN J. "The Guilds of Dublin" (London: Ernest Benn, 1929), pp90-92.

Dublin, 1498 A "Chain Book" describes a St. George's day pageant, with the following cast:

George (on horseback)
Emperor
2 doctors
Empress
2 knights
2 maidens
Dragon (with "a mayd well aparelled to lead the dragon")
4 attendants (carrying props for the various characters)
4 trumpeters
King and Queen of Dele, with attendants

The pageant was also shown on Corpus Christi (about a month or so later). There is no evidence to suggest that this was a play, but the cast of characters, including in particular two doctors, may be felt to be more than a little suggestive of the influence of an existing tradition. Why are doctors an important part of this pageant? Is somebody likely to be hurt?

;-)
Ian