Context:

Location: Selston, Nottinghamshire, England (SK4553)
Year: Perf. about 1913
Time of Occurrence: Christmas, New Year
Collective Name: Mummers

Source:

R.W.Storer (Ed.)
Selston 1913 : 'End of an era'
Selston, Selston Branch of the Workers' Educational Association, 1983

Cast:

Text:

Introducer

A open the door, and enter in,
A beg y' pardon to begin,
Whether A stand, sit, or fall,
A'll do me' duty to please y' all
A room, a room a gatherin' room
A room to see a fight
Stir up that fire an' mek' a' light
To see these brave boys act tonight
If y' don't believe these words A say
Step in Bull-Guy an' clear the way

{Enter Bull-Guy}

Bull-Guy

In comes Bull-Guy
From England A've sprung
A've travelled all the nations round
To find King George's Son
A've found him at the slaughter
A slew the King of Egypt's daughter

{Enter King Georges Son}

King Georges Son

In comes King George's Son
Me' hands an' head are made uv' hard knuckle bone,
An' no man can mek' me feel

Bull Guy

Can't a mek' the feel?

King Georges Son

No, tha' can't mek' me feel

Bull Guy

Stand back, stand back, tha' dirty dog
A'll mek' thee buttons fly
A'll fill thee belly full o'bones an' stones
An' thou shall surely die

King Georges Son

Shall A' die?

Bull Guy

Yea' thou shall surely die

King Georges Son

Shake hand before A' die

{They fence and King George's Son stab Bull Guy who falls to the floor as his father rushes in}

Father

Oh' George, Oh' George, what has tha' done,
Tha's killed an slain me' only son,
Me' only son lies dying here'
Send for a' doctor.

{Enter the Doctor}

Doctor

In comes Doctor
A noble Doctor too

Father

How comes tha' to be a Doctor?

Doctor

Be me' travels

Father

Where are thee travels?

Doctor

Ickally, pickally, France an' Spain
Oer' hills and hom' ag'en

Father

Where else?

Doctor

Ye'sir, upstairs, downstairs an' in
Me' mothers bread an' cheese basket

Father

What can tha cure?

Doctor

The itch, stitch, palsy an' gout
Pains wi'in an' pains wi'out

Father

How much will tha cure me' son for?

Doctor

Oh' five pounds, bein' a poor man - ten

Father

Cure him then

Doctor

Her Jack, tek' a drop o' this nick-nack
an' let it run down thee tic-tac
an' rise an' fight agen'.

Father

Y' fool, he's never shifted

Doctor

Oh' dear. 'Ave gin him wrong bottle.
Thiz another bottle in me smock-coat pockit
Here Jack, tek a drop o' this nick-nack
an' let it run down thee tic-tac,
an' rise an' fight agen

{Bull-Guy rises}

Bull-Guy

A wuz slain, now a'm live agen

Doctor

Now ladies an' gentlemen all a'round
'Ave cured this man, both safe an sound
'Ave healed his wounds - 'ave cleansed his blood
'Ave gin him stuff that'll do him good
If you can't believe these words A say
Step in Bel-ze-bub an' clear the way

{Enter Beelzebub}

Beelzebub

In comes owd' Bel-ze-bub
O'er me back, 'a carry me club
In me 'and a drippin' pan
Don't y' think 'am a jolly ow'd man
If y' don't, a do
Plum puddin's hot, plum puddings cowd
Plum puddin's in a pot - nine days owd
Money a want, an' money a'll 'ave
If you don't gimmee that
A'll blow y' away
If you 'ant got a penny - a a'penny will do
If you aint got that - God bless you.

{All the company sing together}

[All]

We've come to steal your ow'd black hen
You'd better leave us a'lone then
She lays two eggs on ev'ry day
An' on a Sunday three ....
An' on a Sunday three

Notes:

Collected from Mr. Abraham Edward Simpson-Coleman's (87 yrs old).

File History:

1994-12-26 - Entered by Peter Millington
1997-03-25 - File named by Peter Millington
2001-01-08 - Performance date adjusted by Peter Millington
2021-01-15 - TEI-encoded by Peter Millington

Extras:

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