Item YPS/5/1 - Manuscript copy of The Scriveners' Play: The Incredulity of Thomas

Also known as 'The Sykes Manuscript'. The play formed part of the cycle of York Mystery Plays, performed in York at the festival of Corpus Christi until their suppression in 1569. This manuscript is only one of two known contemporary copies of the play; the other is held at the British Library. The text of this copy has some variations from those found in the copy at the British Library. This play would have been performed by the Guild of Scriveners [Scribes].

The vellum cover of the play contains various rough notes.

A folder contains a typed transcription and translation, as well as photographs of the manuscript, is kept in the same box.

For a detailed analysis of the manuscript see A.C. Cawley,
The Sykes Manuscript of the York Scriveners’ Play in Leeds Studies in English and Kindred Languages, 1952. Cawley notes that the manuscript may have originally been held by the Corporation of York, before being donated to the Yorkshire Philosophical Society in the nineteenth century by a private individual.