Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 4 1886.djvu/106

98 It was then a custom for parties of men or boys, for a month or so before and after Christmas, to go about as mummers. The first set I saw perform were from a neighbouring town, and were well got up, being fairly dressed in character; the speeches were given in rich, bombastic style, and they had been well practised in fencing, dancing, and singing. Such however was an exception to the rule, as generally the men were merely disguised with but little or no regard to the characters, and the words spoken with very little knowledge of their meanings.

The following is from an old written paper from which the performers evidently had to learn their parts, and this is probably from an older and more perfect paper, as the errors of the copyist are obvious.