M.W.Barley Collection (1953, J.D.Crossland & R.Morris)
Version d |
Transcription
|
EAST BRIDGFORD PLOUGH MONDAY PLAY
Collected by Miss E.M. Paling from Mr. J.D. Crossland, Mr. R. Morris, 1953, Last performed
about 1912
Tom Fool enters first, wearing a long hat and garments stuffed with straw.
Says : "Here comes I, Tom Fool,
Who's never been before,
So many actors at your door,
Some can laugh, some can sing,
By your consent they shall come in.".
Eezum-Squeezum enters,
Says : "I am Eezum-Squeezum,
On my shoulder I carry my bezum (brush)
Under my arm a whit-leather drying pan
Don't you think me a funny old man?".
Old lady enters. It is really a man dressed in a long frock stuffed with straw. Sometimes
a dustpan and broom were carried to represent lady. She may have been known as Beelzebub.
She did not say much, but quarrelled with the others who knocked her down. The doctor was
called in. He wore a long hat and smart coat.
Says : "In come I your doctor".
Tom Fool. "How came you to be a doctor?".
"I travelled for it" or "I travelled forth".
"Where did you travel?".
"Round my grandmother's cupboard where I got many a
piece of plum cake".
or
"England, Ireland, France and Spain
and over the hills and back again".
"What can you cure?",
"Hipsy, pipsy, palsy, gout,
Pains within and pains without,
Draw a tooth, set a leg,
And bring all dead men to life again".
"Better to try your experiment on this old lady".
After this conversation between Tom Fool and the Doctor, the latter starts to examine the
old lady.
Says: "I shall have to feel of your pulse" but he feels of her leg instead, and says
"Yes, best part about this old lady."
He then takes a bottle of water out of his pocket and shakes it up.
Says : "Ill give you a drop of wiff-waff out of my old Jiff-Jaff."
Tells her to rise and walk.
Farmer's Boy enters, dressed in billy cocked hat and blue stockings.
Says. "In comes I, the farmer's boy, Who can neither reap, plough, sow nor mow,
I can go from end to end, and scarcely make a baulk or bend, and to my horses
I attend, As they go marching round the end.".
Aub Jolly!"
Sometimes a soldier joined in, dressed in uniform if possible,
(Aub = comes round towards the left
See again " " " right.
Jolly = horse's name).
(Continued overleaf)
-2-
Says : "All young men thats bound for listing
List and do not be afraid,
You shall have all kinds of liquors,
And likewise kiss the pretty maid".
All sing: "Good. Master and Good Mistress
As you sit around your fire
Remember us poor plough lads
That plough through mud and mire
We thank you for a Christmas box,
Or a pitcher of your best beer."
Tom Fool. "I wish you'd be steady with your pitchers,
I'm more hungry than you are dry,"
One shouted: "What do you want Joey?".
Joey: "I could do with a piece of plum cake".
Tom Fool: "Yes I could do with a crumb myself as big as
a gravestone".
All go out.
Some players spent one week visiting private houses and divided the money
among themselves. Sometimes they earned 5 or 6/- per night which was a
considerable sum then. They were not always cordially received, and were
sometimes set on by the dogs. All the characters had black faces and made
themselves look as ugly as possible. Five or six was the usual number taking
part. Sticks with big knobs were carried.
Apparently at an earlier stage they carried a
plough.
Called Plough Bullocking,
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * |
|
