THE COMPANIONAGE.
240
"
manuscripts of the mystery of St Crispin and St Crepinian are in existence.
One is in tlie Archives of the Empire .". .". published in print 1836, by Messieurs
.".
Chabailles & Dessales .•.
date, commencement of the fifteenth century [it took four
Many
.
.
.
.
The first three days follow the legend pretty closely in the fourth the
days to represent].
The subject thereof is the invention or
authors have allowed their imaginations much licence.
;
discovery of the bodies of the
two masters.
•
.
.
.
Messieurs Chabailles
.
&
Dessales also say,
the mystery of St Crispin and St Crepinian was singular in this respect, that instead of
being acted by the brotherhood of the Passion like most of the other mysteries, it was represented by a special troop, a society of
of their patron saints.
Such was
workmen who every year assembled
in
effect
to celebrate the glory
the usage of the Fraternity of Cordwainers of
Paris."
This
it
the earliest indication of the
is
must not be supposed that
I
important references, or o bf