dissertation happiness

In my dissertation, which is slowly approaching completion, I'm comparing a play by Tony Harrison called The Mysteries with its original medieval counterpart: the "cycle plays". For all of you who do more sensible things in their time than look up silly historical facts, in the medieval times some towns such as York and Chester performed so-called 'cycle plays' in which the biblical and apocryphal history of mankind was presented episodically on pageant wagons through town. The Cycle Plays existed for about 200 years until the reformation suppressed them. It's all quite interesting stuff, especially if you imagine that at one time York had a play which stretched from 4:30 in the morning until midnight and that God and Jesus were played by people.

Anyway, I just came across this report about a cycle play from the sixteenth century. The backstory is this: basically a man with great debts hides from his debtors inside a church. Up come the people running the pageant, and on seeing this goodlooking bloke decide to make him their Jesus. Although it's a big honour, the man declines for a long time - after all, once he sets foot outside of the church he can get arrested again. So the people tell him that he can perform it on their pageant wagon - a wagon belonging to the church, and therefore like an extension for the church. The man consents and the wagon sets of to perform the play.

However, there's a problem: the man's debtor predictably hears of this, curses, and bribes the person playing Judas to help him out. When Judas gives Jesus his kiss, Judas is also to give Jesus a push and throw him off the cart.  I'll let the author tell you what happens next:

"...[Judas] gave him so forcible a kiss and a push, that he fell to the ground. The Alguazil (constable) captured him then and there; but as the good Lord was looking most woefully at his disciples, St. Peter, who stood next to him with his sword, took pity upon him and almost cleft the Alguazil's head in twain. Thereupon a great turmoil ensued in the whole village, so that the Justice intervened and arrested St. Peter, the Lord, and Judas with all his Jews.

Thereupon the Judge proclaimed: sententia, Firstly, Judas to be given the birch for a scoffer of God. Secondly, the Alguazil to have himself physicked  at his own cost. Thirdly, St. Peter to be set free, as a pious and faithful apostle, and the Lord likewise. The merchant to forfeit that which the Lord owes unto him and to make no further claims upon him for all eternity.

Of this, for lack of better news, have I wished to give tidings unto you."

I laughed out loud when I read this. I really hope it's not a joke, the whole thing is too good to be true.