The performance of a cycle of mystery plays in York, England can be documented from the late fourteenth century although they had probably been performed for some time before. The production and staging of the plays was the responsiblity of the various craft guilds of the town. A list of the plays and guilds responsible for the production of each was drawn up in 1415 and the texts of forty-five plays were written down between 1463 and 1477. Records of performances indicate that the plays were performed until at least 1569.

The plays were performed on pageant wagons that followed a set route through the town, stopping for performance at twelve designated sites. Beginning at dawn and ending after midnight, the cycle was performed every year on the feast of Corpus Christi (which falls in May or June). The cycle of York (also spelled "Yorke") mystery plays covers the entire histroy of salvation, beginning with the Fall of the Angels and ending with the Last Judgement. The life of Christ is especially emphasized. This excerpt, written in Middle English, is from The Crucifixion of Christ.