Proclamation of the Mystery Plays at the Mansion House

Although the individual plays were presented by the guilds, it was the Council that took responsibility for the co-ordination of the overall event. At station 8 the Mayor and the Council watched the plays to ensure that they should serve their religious purpose and be a credit to the city. In 1476 four of the best actors were summoned before the Mayor and instructed to hold auditions, and only those who were good enough were offered a part. In 1415 it is recorded that there was a penalty of 100 shillings if a play was not up to standard, particularly if the players did not speak clearly or loudly enough.