Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 7.djvu/43

 10 s. vn. JAX. 12, 1907.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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hampions of Christendom) ; a Doctor ; a Fool or Hunchback ; Lord Nelson ; and another who is sometimes described as a " jolly Jack Tar " and sometimes as " Paddy from Cork " (surely St. Patrick ?).

The Hunchback, clearing a ring, speaks first :

Stir up the fire and strike a light, Arid see our noble act to-night. If you don't believe a word I say, Step up, Great George, and lead the way. King George. In steps I, Great George ; 'Great George it is my name. With my right hand and glittering sword I Ve won ten [or three] crowns of gold. 'Twas I that fought the fiery dragon, And brought him down by slaughter ; And by those means I won the prize, The King of Egypt's daughter. Then enters the King of Morocco :

In steps I, Prince of Paradine,

The black Morocco king.

With sword and buckler by my side

I through the woods do ring.

I 'm brave boys,

And that 's what makes you good ;

And through thy dearest body, George,

I '11 draw thy precious blood.

I mean what I say, arid tell no lies ;

I '11 cut thee to pieces and make mince pies. To which King George replies : Mince pies hot and mince pies cold, I'll send thee to Blacksand before thou's three

days old.

They fight, and the black king is killed. Enter Molly Masket (not Father Christmas) :

O George, George, what hast thou done ?

Thou 's gone and slain my only son,

My only son, my only heir,

How canst thou see him bleeding there ? K. George. He challenged me to fight, And why should I deny ? I '11 cut his body in four parts, And make his buttons fly.

A doctor is then called for, and a long dia- logue ensues between him and King George. He discourses of his travels from Hiptip to the Tallyantic [Atlantic] Ocean ; ninety degrees below the bottom; where I saw houses built of rounds of beef, slated with pan- cakes, &c.

" Any further ? " inquires the King.

Yes, from my grandmother's bed to the stairhead from the stairhead to the chairleg ; from the chair? leg to the corner cupboard, where I got so much bread and cheese, which makes me so fat and lusty as you see me now.

K. George. I 'm not talking of fat.

Doctor. Neither am I talking about lean.

K. George. What are you talking about ?

Doctor. What. I can cure.

K. George. What can you cure ?

Doctor. Ipsy-pipsey [epilepsy], palsy and the gout, Pains within and pains without. If there 's nineteen devils in this man, I 'm sure to bring twenty out.

The black prince of Morocco is resuscitated, and the play proper comes to a premature end, the rest being mere jingle " The next to come in is Lord Nelson, you see, with a bunch of blue ribbons tied on to his knee," &c. ; and the Fool or Hunchback, as Chorus, winds up with the usual appeal :

Ladies and gentlemen who sit by the fire,

Put your hands in your pockets and show your

desire ; Put your hands in your pockets and pull out your

purse,

And give us a trifle : you '11 not be much worse. Here we all are, seven in a row, As jolly like fellows as ever you saw ; So mind what you're doing and see that all's

right.

If you give nowt, we '11 take nowt. Fare well and good night !

F. GORDON BROWN.

The title 'The Christmas Boys' for the mummers' play of * St. George ' is perhaps new to most of the contributors to ' N. & Q.'j but all will welcome ME,. CHART'S new version, if such it may be called, which is in many ways much like the old, though differing in the words in several places. The actors' dresses were of a most nonde- script kind, though all wore tall tapering head-dresses of cardboard. The King, the Prince, and St. George had plumes of two or three colours, and from their shoulders and waist were streamers of the like colours. Slasher's dress was more of the swash- buckler's order, and he had a seedy look all over. Their coats and trousers were deco- rated with patches of various sizes and colours ; they carried swords and belt- knives. The Doctor was somewhat more soberly dressed, and he carried a staff, and sometimes had a bottle slung at his waist. Usually there were three or four others common soldiers having long staves in their hands ; but each wore the same kind of hat, with streamers at the waist only. Their share in the performance was to march in with the actors, help in the finishing chorus, and march out ; but while the play went on they stood in line at the back.

The way in which the play was presented varied very much. If the room was large enough, all the performers walked in with the Fool at the head. If the room was small, the Fool came first, saying :

In comes I, who have never been before,

With my merry actors at the door ;

They can act, and dance, and sing ;

With your consent they shall come in.

Stir up the fire and make a light ;

And see this noble act to-night.

If you don't believe the words I say,

Step in, St. George, and clear the way.