It is said that Apollonarius of Laodicea (A.D. 362), and Gregory of
Nazianzum not much later, dramatised our Lord's Passion. Many, however,
regard the _Christus Patiens_, ascribed to Gregory, as spurious. The
Passion of our Lord was represented in the Coliseum at Rome as much as six
centuries ago. The subject was a favourite one in Italy. In France, "The
Fraternity of the Passion of our Saviour" received letters patent from
Charles VI. in 1402. Their object was to perform moralities or mysteries,
_i. e._ plays on sacred subjects. In 1486, the Chapter of the Church at
Lyons gave sixty livres to those who had played the mystery of the Passion
of our Lord Jesus Christ. In 1518, Francis I. confirmed by letters patent
the privileges of the Confrères de la Passion: one of their pieces,
reprinted in 1541, is entitled _Le Mystère de la Passion de N. S. J. C._
The same subject was common in Spain and Germany. In England the Coventry
mysteries, &c. partook of the same character. The Cotton MS. (Vespasian, b.
viii.) and the Chester Whitsun plays (Harleian MS. 2013.) would probably
afford information which I cannot now give. So late as 1640, Sandys wrote a
tragedy, on a plan furnished by Grotius, upon Christ's Passion. A little
research would give H. P. a number of similar facts.