A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1486-1487, 1552-1595
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Clerk-play, Clark-play, n. [Clerk n. 1, 2.] A play composed or acted by ‘clerks’; a dramatic performance of scholarly origin.a1487 Gud Wife & D. 83.
Let thame nocht ga … to clerk playis na pilgrimage, Bot thar be vith thaim vis folk of age 1552–3 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 76.
For making of ane skaffalt on the hill to the clerk play 1558 Maitland Maitland Folio MS xvi. 20.
All burrowis townis, euerilk man ȝow prayis To mak bainfyris, fairseis, and clerk playis, And throw ȝour rewis carrellis dans and sing 1558-66 Knox I. 138.
I have heard of thee, Hadingtoun, that in thee wold have bein at ane vane clerk play two or three thowsand people 1574 Bk. Univ. Kirk I. 322.
That no clerk playes, comedies or tragedies be made of the canonicall Scripture … , neither on the Sabboth day nor worke day, in tyme comeing 1574 Misc. Maitl. C. II. 114.
To inquir gif ane clark play wes playit at the tyme of the preching at the mariage of Thomas Balfouris dochteris 1595 Duncan Appendix.
Fabella, a tale, or clark play; comoedia, vel tragoedia
