Originally prepared for textual analysis during his PhD research on the 'Origins and Development of English Folk Plays' by Peter Millington (2002).
Original spelling and typography is retained, except that superscripts, long s and ligatured forms are not encoded.
Line identifiers are those used for line types in the Folk Play Scripts Explorer.
"Mumming.
Who list, may in their mumming see
Traces of ancient mystery.
Scott.
Mumming is an ancient amusement derived from the Roman Saturnalia, and so called from the Danish Mumme, or Dutch Momme, disguise in a mask. Christmas is the grand season for this performance, and I believe it was formerly general throughout the county, though it now only lingers in a few detached villages, as in this age of refinement few only will allow their dwellings to be made the scene of this antic pastime, as the performers enter uninvited, suddenly throwing open the door, and one after the other enact their different parts.
The mummers consist of young men, generally six or eight, who, during the Christmas holidays, commencing on the eve of Saint Thomas, go about in the rural districts disguised, personating different characters, and performing a burlesque tragedy at such houses as they think will recompense them for their entertainment. Brackley is the only market-town where I have even heard of the custom being observed. Some years since, at the seat of the late Michael Wodhull, Esq. Thenford, I witnessed the representation of the following mock play by eight Mummers, all masked.
Dramatis Personae
Beelzebub. - Jacket, with patches of different colours, paper cap, and a besom in his hand.
Activity. - Fox or hare-skin cap and tippet.
Age on the Stage. - Smock-frock covered with rags, high paper cap, and a sprig of holly.
Doctor. - Jacket, with a sheep-skin skirt behind, bell fastened at his back, top boots, high cap with a sprig of holly.
Doctor's horse. - A man who carries the doctor on his back, and supports his hands upon a small stool as he moves along.
Jem Jacks, the doctor's man. - Jacket covered with rags, stuffed with straw at the back; fringed cap of various colours. Carries the doctor's pill-box.
Fool. - Large flat cap, great coat covered with rags, a long stick strung with whipcord, a calf's tail fastened at one and, and an inflated bladder with beans at the other, called a hurdy-gurdy.
Treasurer. - A cap, carries a box or canister for contributions."
Baker's closing remarks:The other version of this drama, which I have obtained, are so similar to the one given above, that it is needless to insert them. The Mummers are most frequently disguised with discolourations of red, white, and black on their faces, and any grotesque attire they can procure.
The name is often now ignorantly transferred to the Plough Witches who go about on Plough Monday.