A Righte Merrie Christmasse Part 15

Of the comparatively modern play acted by the mummers s.p.a.ce only enables me to give two examples, although I could give many more. The first is the simplest, and only requires three princ.i.p.al actors, and this is still played in Oxfords.h.i.+re.[70]

[Footnote 70: _Notes and Queries_, 6th series xii. 489.]

_A Knight enters with his sword drawn, and says:_

Room, room, make room, brave gallants all, For me and my brave company!

Where's the man that dares bid me stand?

I'll cut him down with my bold hand!

_St. George._ Here's the man that dares bid you stand; He defies your courageous hand!

_The Knight._ Then mind your eye, to guard the blow, And s.h.i.+eld your face, and heart also.

(_St. George gets wounded in the combat, and falls._)

Doctor, Doctor, come here and see, St. George is wounded in the knee; Doctor, Doctor, play well your part.

St. George is wounded in the heart!

(_The Doctor enters._)

I am a Doctor, and a Doctor good, And with my hand I'll stop the blood.

_The Knight._ What can you cure, Doctor?

_The Doctor._ I can cure coughs, colds, fevers, gout, Both pains within and aches without; I will bleed him in the thumb.

_St. George._ O! will you so? then I'll get up and run!

_Some more Mummers or Minstrels come in, and they sing the following stanza, accompanied by the Hurdy Gourdy_:--

My father, he killed a fine fat hog, And that you may plainly see; My mother gave me the guts of the hog, To make a hurdy gourdy.

_Then they repeat the song in full chorus, and dance._

The other example is far more elaborate, and was read by J.S. Udal, Esquire, in a paper on Christmas Mummers in Dorsets.h.i.+re before the Folk-lore Society, 13th April 1880. He said: "I will now proceed to give the entire rendering of the first version as it was obtained for me, some few years ago, by an old Dorsets.h.i.+re lady, who is now dead, and in this the _dramatis personae_ are as follow:--

"OLD FATHER CHRISTMAS.

ROOM.

ANTHONY, the Egyptian King.

ST. GEORGE.

ST. PATRICK.

CAPTAIN Bl.u.s.tER.

GRACIOUS KING.

GENERAL VALENTINE.

COLONEL SPRING.

OLD BETTY.

DOCTOR.

SERVANT-MAN."

_Enter_ OLD FATHER CHRISTMAS.

Here comes I, Father Christmas, welcome, or welcome not, I hope Old Father Christmas will never be forgot.

Although it is Old Father Christmas, he has but a short time to stay I am come to show you pleasure, and pa.s.s the time away.

I have been far, I have been near, And now, I am come to drink a pot of your Christmas beer; And, if it is your best, I hope, in heaven your soul will rest.

If it is a pot of your small, We cannot show you no Christmas at all.

Walk in, Room, again I say, And, pray, good people, clear the way.

Walk in, Room.

_Enter_ ROOM.

G.o.d bless you all, Ladies and Gentlemen, It's Christmas time, and I am come again.

My name is Room, one sincere and true, A merry Christmas I wish to you.

King of Egypt is for to display, A n.o.ble champion without delay.

St. Patrick too, a charming Irish youth, He can fight, or dance, or love a girl with truth.

A n.o.ble Doctor, I do declare, and his surprising tricks, bring up the rear.

And let the Egyptian King straightway appear.

_Enter_ EGYPTIAN KING.

Here comes I, Anthony, the Egyptian King.

With whose mighty acts, all round the globe doth ring; No other champion but me excels, Except St. George, my only son-in-law.

Indeed, that wondrous Knight, whom I so dearly love, Whose mortal deeds the world dost well approve, The hero whom no dragon could affright, A whole troop of soldiers couldn't stand in sight.

Walk in, St. George, his warlike ardour to display, And show Great Britain's enemies dismay.

Walk in, St. George.

_Enter_ ST. GEORGE.

Here am I, St. George, an Englishman so stout, With those mighty warriors I long to have a bout; No one could ever picture me the many I have slain, I long to fight, it's my delight, the battle o'er again.

Come then, you boasting champions, And here, that in war I doth take pleasure, I will fight you all, both great and small, And slay you at my leisure.

Come, haste, away, make no delay, For I'll give you something you won't like, And, like a true-born Englishman, I will fight you on my stumps.

And, now, the world I do defy, To injure me before I die.

So, now, prepare for war, for that is my delight.

_Enter_ ST. PATRICK, _who shakes hands with_ ST. GEORGE.

My worthy friend, how dost thou fare, St. George?

Answer, my worthy Knight.

ST. GEORGE.

I am glad to find thee here; In many a fight that I have been in, travelled far and near, To find my worthy friend St. Patrick, that man I love so dear.

Four bold warriors have promised me To meet me here this night to fight.

The challenge did I accept, but they could not me affright.

ST. PATRICK.

I will always stand by that man that did me first enlarge, I thank thee now, in grat.i.tude, my worthy friend, St. Gearge; Thou did'st first deliver me out of this wretched den, And now I have my liberty, I thank thee once again.

_Enter_ CAPTAIN Bl.u.s.tER.