Chapter 16
"Mr. Sidney Clarke's concise monograph in 'The Miracle Play in England' is another of the long and interesting series of antiquarian volumes for popular reading issued by the same publishing house. The author briefly sketches the rise and growth of the 'Miracle' or 'Mystery' play in Europe and in England; and gives an account of the series or cycle of these curious religious dramas--the forerunners of the modern secular play--performed at York, Wakefield, Chester, Coventry, and other towns in the middle ages. But his chief efforts are devoted to giving a sketch of the manner of production, and the scenery, properties, and dresses of the old miracle play, as drawn from the minute account books of the craft and trade guilds and other authentic records of the period. Mr. Clarke has gone to the best sources for his information, and the volume, illustrated by quaint cuts, is an excellent compendium of information on a curious byeway of literature and art."--_The Scotsman._
* * * * *
Legal Lore: Curiosities of Law and Lawyers.
EDITED BY WILLIAM ANDREWS, F.R.H.S.
_Demy 8vo., Cloth extra, 7s. 6d._
CONTENTS:--Bible Law--Sanctuaries--Trials in Superstitious Ages--On Symbols--Law Under the Feudal System--The Manor and Manor Law--Ancient Tenures--Laws of the Forest--Trial by Jury in Old Times--Barbarous Punishments--Trials of Animals--Devices of the Sixteenth Century Debtors--Laws Relating to the Gipsies--Commonwealth Law and Lawyers--Cock-Fighting in Scotland--Cockieleerie Law--Fatal Links--Post-Mortem Trials--Island Laws--The Little Inns of Court--Obiter.
"There are some very amusing and curious facts concerning law and lawyers. We have read with much interest the articles on Sanctuaries, Trials in Superstitious Ages, Ancient Tenures, Trials by Jury in Old Times, Barbarous Punishments, and Trials of Animals, and can heartily recommend the volume to those who wish for a few hours' profitable diversion in the study of what may be called the light literature of the law."--_Daily Mail._
"Most amusing and instructive reading."--_The Scotsman._
"The contents of the volume are extremely entertaining, and convey not a little information on ancient ideas and habits of life. While members of the legal profession will turn to the work for incidents with which to illustrate an argument or point a joke, laymen will enjoy its vivid descriptions of old-fashioned proceedings and often semi-barbaric ideas to obligation and rectitude."--_Dundee Advertiser._
"The subjects chosen are extremely interesting, and contain a quantity of out-of-the-way and not easily accessible information.... Very tastefully printed and bound."--_Birmingham Daily Gazette._
"The book is handsomely got up; the style throughout is popular and clear, and the variety of its contents, and the individuality of the writers gave an added charm to the work."--_Daily Free Press._
"The book is interesting both to the general reader and the student."--_Cheshire Notes and Queries._
"Those who care only to be amused will find plenty of entertainment in this volume, while those who regard it as a work of reference will rejoice at the variety of material, and appreciate the careful indexing."--_Dundee Courier._
"Very interesting subjects, lucidly and charmingly written. The versatility of the work assures for it a wide popularity."--_Northern Gazette._
"A happy and useful addition to current literature."--_Norfolk Chronicle._
"The book is a very fascinating one, and it is specially interesting to students of history as showing the vast changes which, by gradual course of development have been brought about both in the principles and practice of the law."--_The Evening Gazette._
* * * * *
Transcriber's note:
Corrections to the Index have been made without note.
Significant changes to the text are listed below.
p. 21, 'Frazer' changed to _Fraser_.
p. 35, 'detroyed' changed to _destroyed_, 'Fictitious Capital and False Credit destroyed.'
p. 37, '12th' changed to _15th_, 'Monday, the 15th of March.'
p. 85, 'On same night ...' changed to _On the same night ..._
p. 125, 'empanneled' changed to _empanelled_ (twice).
p. 155, 'Mr. Llewellynn Jewitt' changed to _Mr. Llewellyn Jewitt_.
p. 160, 'Dioletian' changed to _Diocletian_.
p. 271, 'Scolding-car' changed to _Scolding Cart_, 'Scolding Cart is another name ...'
p. 294, 'described as a "a gag or brank ..."' changed to _described as "a gag or brank ..."_