Question

the time travelers guide to elizabethan england
by ian mortimer
the theater
in the modern world we have great admiration for elizabethan theater. at
the time, however, it is in the throes of a radical revolution. at the start of
the reign the majority of productions are miracle plays—reconstructions of
scenes from the bible, performed as both civic and religious rituals. these
go out of favor when the privy council decrees that they are too close to
catholicism and should stop. those at york cease in 1569. in chester the
citizens defy the privy council and continue performing their play about
noahs flood well into the 1570s. the coventry mystery plays are finally
suppressed in 1579, so this is the town to visit if you want to catch one
later in the reign. the guary miracle play in cornwall continues for some
years but is so amateurish it can hardly be seen as a threat. during its
performances, a prompter goes to each actor in turn and whispers his
speech to him, line by line
in their stead, people increasingly choose to see secular plays on historical
and moral themes. these are performed up and down the country by
theater companies called after lords, for example “lord sussex’s men,”
“lord strange’s men,” “the lord admiral’s men,” and “lord leicester’s
men.” the reason for these names is that, while unattached actors are
liable to be arrested for vagrancy, the act of 1572 specifically excludes
players properly authorized by lords from being considered vagabonds.
read the excerpt from the time traveler’s guide to elizabethan england
these the miracle plays go out of favor when the privy council decrees
that they are too close to catholicism and should stop. those at york
cease in 1569. in chester the citizens defy the privy council and
continue performing their play about noah’s flood well into the 1570s.
the coventry mystery plays are finally suppressed in 1579, so this is
the town to visit if you want to catch one later in the reign. the guary
miracle play in cornwall continues for some years but is so amateurish
it can hardly be seen as a threat.
which event happened second?
the plays being performed in york ceased.
the coventry mystery plays were finally
suppressed

Explanation:

Step1: List event timelines

• Council decree: before 1569 (trigger for York's end)
• York plays ceased: 1569
• Chester plays continued into 1570s
• Coventry plays suppressed: 1579
• Guary plays continued later

Step2: Order events chronologically

1. Council decree (pre-1569)
2. York plays ceased (1569)
3. Chester plays continued (1570s)
4. Coventry plays suppressed (1579)

Answer:

The plays being performed in York ceased.