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The twelfth play from the York Corpus Christi Plays brings us to the New Testament, as Mary is visited by the Angel Gabriel and asked to become the Mother of God. She then visits her cousin Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, and sings of the world to come. The play is based on Luke 1, v.26-55. The play was originally performed by the Guild of Spicers, who traded in spices. The direct link to the play's subject is unclear, although Mary is symbolised by floral imagery.

 The Incarnation- the moment of conception- may have used special effects such as rays of light or pyrotechnics. The Doctor's long opening monologue, describing the theological backstory, may therefore have been used to cover for the pageant's team as they set these up. An abundance of music- from both the angels and Mary- allows a moving performance. The role of Mary has often been a springboard for professional actors- including Mary Ure (1951), Dame Judi Dench (1957), and Ruby Barker (2016).

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The original script, in 15th Century Middle English, can be found here, courtesy of Prof. Clifford Davidson and the University of Rochester's TEAMS Middle English Text Series.

Poster of Mary (Ruby Barker) for the 2016 York Minster Mystery Plays

Mary (Meredith Stewart) greets her cousin Elizabeth (Cynthia Wood), performed by the Guild of Media Arts (2018)