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.
This text was scanned from Alex Helm "The English Mummers' Play", Woodbridge, D.S.Brewer, 1981, pp.93-215
Helm's Introduction:"The version was last performed in 1879 and was revived in 1926 when it was collected by Dr Karpeles. Performers are alive in the village who still remember the dialogue, and the text which follows contains lines recently col- lected by Miss B. G. Wilson. Both old and new costumes are shown on Plates 11 and 12. In recent years disguised men have been appearing at Whitsuntide to collect money, but without performing either dance or drama. Their costume is said to be exactly that of the old per- formers: on the white tunic and trousers are appliqued cut out shapes of animals, geometric patterns and faces. Colour photographs taken by Mr Tom Chambers show these clearly as well as three 'Females'. They now call themselves 'Guisers' and show no desire to revive the ceremony in full as it used to be performed, which is unfortunate.
The text received comment in the chapter on Sword Dance Ceremonies and needs no further comment here.
The players process in the following order and form up in a straight line facing the audience:
Drummer, Fiddler, Bessie with a clown on either side, King, Five dancers, one behind the other.
The performers, as they speak, leave the line and move forward."
Helm's Footnotes to Bellerby text:1. This song tune was used throughout except for the last song. [[Music for this tune is printed in both] M.K. (1928) and A.Helm (1981).]
2. Added from a version collected by Miss B. G. Wilson.
3. ll. 76-9 are added from the Miss Wilson version.
4. The music for 'Gentry and Sentry' was only imperfectly remembered, and Dr Karpeles was unable to note it."