The Second Shepherd's Play
Just imagine it! Every year during the summer months a wonderful performing group travels to your city to put on shows for you and your neighbors! They came with amazing shows and costumes that they carried with them, just for your town! Wouldn't it be magnificent! Well in the middle ages, this was just the sort of thing that that the middle class could look forward to.
These traveling plays were known as Cycle Plays. The Second Shepherd's Play was part of the Wakefield/Towneley Cycle. This cycle was a series of thirty-two pageants based on the Bible. They are called the Wakefield/Towneley Cycle plays because they were performed in Wakefield, England during the Middle Ages and early Renaissance period and the one manuscript that still exists today and contains all of the plays was owned by the Towneley family.
Cycle plays are also known as Mystery Plays. These plays were grouped into a series called cycles, named for the places they were performed. They were performed in York, Chester, Wakefield, and "N." Each of these plays was written by a different author. However, because some of the plays are obviously superior, they are said to have been written by the Wakefield Master.
The Second Shepherd's Play is considered to be one of the best of the Cycle Plays. It is so popular because of not only its religious aspects, but its humorous aspects as well. The Wakefield Master is also credited with writing Second Shepherd's but it is unknown who this Master Playwright was.
These traveling plays were known as Cycle Plays. The Second Shepherd's Play was part of the Wakefield/Towneley Cycle. This cycle was a series of thirty-two pageants based on the Bible. They are called the Wakefield/Towneley Cycle plays because they were performed in Wakefield, England during the Middle Ages and early Renaissance period and the one manuscript that still exists today and contains all of the plays was owned by the Towneley family.
Cycle plays are also known as Mystery Plays. These plays were grouped into a series called cycles, named for the places they were performed. They were performed in York, Chester, Wakefield, and "N." Each of these plays was written by a different author. However, because some of the plays are obviously superior, they are said to have been written by the Wakefield Master.
The Second Shepherd's Play is considered to be one of the best of the Cycle Plays. It is so popular because of not only its religious aspects, but its humorous aspects as well. The Wakefield Master is also credited with writing Second Shepherd's but it is unknown who this Master Playwright was.
The Plot
This story actually has two parts. The first part is about a non-biblical story about a man named Mak. Mak steals a sheep from three shepherds, Coll, Dib, and Daw. Mak and his wife try to pass the sheep off as their newborn son in order to keep the sheep. At first the shepherds are fooled. However, when they go to give a gift to the new baby, they realize that it is not a child but their missing sheep. They "toss Mak into the blanket" to take him to the justice of the peace.
The second part of the play is the biblical retelling of Christ's birth through the eye's of the shepherds. The shepherds are told by an Angel that they needed to travel to Bethlehem to see the Christ child. Of course they travel to Bethlehem, where they present the baby with gifts.
The second part of the play is the biblical retelling of Christ's birth through the eye's of the shepherds. The shepherds are told by an Angel that they needed to travel to Bethlehem to see the Christ child. Of course they travel to Bethlehem, where they present the baby with gifts.
This play can be confusing, so be sure to check out the full text of the play here.
And check out Ay triste, que vengo (below), a song from The Second Shepherd's Play.
And check out Ay triste, que vengo (below), a song from The Second Shepherd's Play.
