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I am just starting working on the Susanne and Daniel play
in the 50000-line Mistere du Viel Testament (MVT), which
survives only in post-1500 printed editions. I see that in
the 19th century critics believed that the OT plays in the
Chester cycle were influenced by the MVT. There was also an
article by A C Baugh in 1923 (which I have not been able to
get hold of), giving details of this alleged influence;
this article is resumed by H. Craig in *Eng.Rel.Dr.* pp
173+.
Do modern specialists in the Chester plays still believe in
this French influence? It seems very unlikely to me, since
it is based on the supposition that the plays that make
up the MVT already existed in primitive and simpler form
in the last quarter of the 14th century. Unfortunately,
there is absolutely no evidence that such plays existed.
I would be grateful if any Chester specialists could tell
me what the latest thinking is on this issue of the French
influence. Personally, I am very sceptical.
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