: 'They were
divided there into twenty-four pageants, according to the companies
of the city; every company brought forth its _pageant_, which was the
carriage or stage in which they played; these were wheeled about from
street to street, exchanging with each other, and repeating their
several plays in the different places appointed. The pageants, or
carriages, were high places made like two rooms, one above the other,
open at the top; the lower room was used as a dressing-room, the
higher room was the performing place."

The first of the Norwich pageants, the Creation of the World, is similar
to one described by Hone, as performed at Bamberg, in Germany, so late as
1783; and its details so precisely accord with the stage directions still
extant of similar representations in this country, that it has been
adopted as a fair specimen of the play alluded to in the list.

The description of the German representation is thus given in the words
of an eye-witness:--"The end of a barn being taken away, a dark hole
appeared, hung with tapestry the wrong side outwards; a curtain running
along, and dividing the middle. On this stage the Creation was
performed. A stupid-looking Capuchin personated the Creator. He entered
in a large full-bottomed wig, with a false beard, wearing over the rusty
dress of his order a brocade morning-gown, the lining of light blue silk
being rendered visible occasionally by the pride the wearer took in
showing it; and he eyed his slippers with the same satisfaction. He
first came on, making his way through the tapestry, groping about; and
purposely running his head against posts, exclaiming, with a sort of
peevish authority, 'Let there be light,' at the same time pushing the
tapestry right and left, and disclosing a glimmer through linen clothes
from candles placed behind them. The creation of the sea was represented
by the pouring of water along the stage; and the making of dry land by
the throwing of mould. Angels were personated by girls and young
priests, habited in dresses (hired from a masquerade shop), to which the
wings of geese were clumsily attached, near the shoulders. The angels
actively assisted the character in the flowered dressing-gown, in
producing the stars, moon, and sun. To represent winged fowl, a number
of cocks and hens were fluttered about; and for other living creatures,
some cattle were driven on the stage, with a well-shod horse, and tw