ANCIENT MYSTERIES DESCRIBED, ESPECIALLY THE English Miracle Plays, FOUNDED ON APOCRYPHAL NEW TESTAMENT STORY, EXTANT AMONG THE UNPUBLISHED MANUSCRIPTS IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM; INCLUDING NOTICES OF ECCLESIASTICAL SHOWS, THE FESTIVALS OF FOOLS AND ASSES-THE ENGLISH BOY-BISHOP BY WILLIAM HONE. WITH ENGRAVINGS ON COPPER AND WOOD. "Is it possible the spells of Apocrypha should juggle men into such Shakspears. LONDON: PRINTED FOR WILLIAM HONE 45, LUDGATE HILL. 1823. PREFACE. Ir is related of Johnson, by his pleasant biographer, that he said, "he loved the old black letter books; they were rich in matter, though their style was inelegant." Deeper read in our early writers, than the great moralist, an erudite antiquary of our own day1 observes, that 'with respect to what is often absurdly denominated black letter learning, the taste which prevails in the present times for this sort of reading, wherever true scholarship and a laudable curiosity are found united, will afford the best reply to the hyper-criticisms and impotent sarcasms of those who, having from indolence or ignorance neglected to cultivate so rich a field of knowledge, exert the whole of their endeavours to depreciate its value." The truth of this has been subsequently attested by the popularity of the author of Waverley, who, aided by antient lore, imparts to his scenes and portraits of other times the truth and high finish of Gerard Dow and Denner, and the dignity and grace of Titian and Vandyke. Need I apologize then for bringing together the results of certain desultory reading, intimately connected with that class of literature which is especially dear to me from accidental acquaintance with it in childhood, and stolen intimacies, during thirty years of a life spent in "violating, step 1 Mr. Douce, in his Illustrations of Shakespeare, vol. i. pref. xi. |