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Electronic ERD - Gainford Sword-Dance Play, Another Version

Compiled by E.C.Cawte, A.Helm & N.Peacock. Online ed.: P.T.Millington

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Another version from a younger man who never acted'himself and does not remember any more:

Now since I am the last, the blame I must take
So down on my bended knees for pardon I must crave

Now since thou told the truth, the truth can do no more
We'll do the best we can and bury him privately

Bury him, the devil bury him

I know a doctor that can cure him

A doctor, £10 for a doctor

Here comes I old Dr. Brown

How came thou to be a doctor

By my travels

How far hast thou travelled?

Through England, Fingland, France and Spain
Three times there and back again

Where was thou born?

I was born at itty titty
Where there neither wood, house, land nor city,
Wooden church, leather bells, black puddings for bell ropes, and if thou had been there you would have eaten them all

Wha do they call thee

My name high van, low van tin tan tarravan
latten, leavy, high jany, low jany dead men's bones
Pitch and tar, hog's tar, beeswax and honeycombs
That's my name and a funny name too.

Now, Doctor, what's thy fee?

Ten pounds, but £9.19.11¾ I'll take of thee

I'll not give it thee

I soon gang yam on my old horse

Stop, Doctor and try thy skill

Yes and that I will

How long has this man been dead?

Seven years, 7 months, 7 weeks, 7 days, 7 seconds and I dinnet know how many thirds.

It's a long time for a man to be dead and brought to life again.
How did he happen this misfortune?

Fell upstairs and broke his neck.

Upstairs thou stupid fool, I oft heard of a man falling down but never up.

Well down, doctor, I forgot.

Canst tell us what's matter with him?

All hairs of his head split, his neck broken, his main spring loose and his thumble tear out of joint.

Now here's a box of pills that was left fra' my great grandfather when he was 300 and 36 years of age. All this can they cure, the mulleygrubs and the sculleygrubs the itch the stitch and the gout. If there's nineteen devils in, they drive twenty out. Now here's a bottle left by my great grandmother when she was 100 and 90 years of age, take a drop

Ladies and gentlemen you shall all see this dead man stand upon his feet again, arise young man arise.

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Notes on the above::

[This script is appended to a fuller version.]

[The notes on this play appear under the Gainford Children's Play, where the two texts are discussed together.]

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© 2007, E.C.Cawte, N.Peacock & P.Millington (peter.millington@mastermummers.org). Rev. 22-Nov-2007