Context:

Location: Charney Bassett, Berkshire, England (SU3894)
Year: 1860
Time of Occurrence: Christmas
Collective Name: Mummers

Source:

Rev. George William Walter Minns
Notes & sketch of Mummers at Charney, Berks. 1860
Minns Collection, Col. 1860

Cast:

Text:

[Unknown]

Stir it all up in the fire

Father Xmas

In comes Old Father Xmas. Welcome or Welcome not
I hope old father Xmas will never be forgot.
Last Xmas day I turned the spit.
I burnt my fingers and found on't it.
The spail flod over the table.
The skimmer beat the ladle.
Aye aye says the gridiron What Can't you two agree.
Im the justice so bring 'em to me.
A room A room I do preshume.
To you and my brave gallant boys.
We come to shew you activity of age. Activity of life.
Life was never seen or acted before upon the stage.^
Ive fought many a battle at home & abroad.
All true upon my word.
I don't care for the French Spanish ship nor Turk
Never a man as can do me any hurt
For Im the real prince of King
Come Duke.

Duke.

In comes Duke the Cumberland.
With his broad soord all in his hand.
Where's that man as dares to put me to stand.
Ill knock him down with my clea chus hand
Cut him and skew him small as flies
Send him up to cottagehouse to make mince pies.
Mince pies hot mince pies cold.
Send him up to Lunnon Afore three days old.
Come in Slasher.

Slasher.

Slasher Slasher doesn't thee be so hot.
Thee doesn't know what I have got.
Ive got a staff five foot & a half.
He'll knock down a calf.
I'll warrant he'll knock down thee.
So if thee be so stout.
Thee and I'll have a bout.
I'll will tan thee hide.
So mind thy Eyes and guard the blows
& face also.

{Duke and Slasher fight. Duke dies.}

Father Xmas.

Five pound for that noble doctor
ten if he was but here.

Doctor.

Here am I sir.

Father Xmas.

Whats thy fee?

Doctor.

Five pound ten I should have upon thee.
All sorts and diseases.
Just what my pills pleases.
As the Itch the stitch the fire the palsy, and the gout.
All pains within side & all pains without.
Hard corns soft corns
Mulligrub. funnygrub. Any other little toutorous thing
bring em to me.
I cured old John Duglis' wife
rhematism in both elbows,
& she died.
Im bound for my life's sake
I'll cure any old oman
nine years buried
ten years laid in her grave.
If she'll rise up her head & crack one of my silver pills.
So bring me my pryers Mary

Molly

Here's yr. pryers sir.

{Pulls the tooth out Doctor holds it up}

Doctor.

Isnt that tooth enough to cure any man

Father Xmas.

Any man indeed Sir.
Come in Jack Vinny.

Jack Vinny.

My name isn't Jack Vinny.
My name's Mr. Vinny
Man o great Kingdoms .
Do more than thee or any other man

Father Xmas

What canst thee do then

Jack Vinny.

Cure an old magpie with tooth ache

Father.

How dos't aim/learn t do that

Jack Vinny.

Twist his old head off fling his old curkis into the ditch.

Jack Vinny.

Come in Mary' or Tom the Tinker

Mary.

In comes old Tom the tinker.
With his/hairy great winker.
(ale & drinker)
He told the landlord to his face.
The chimbly corner was his place.
There he set & dried his face
Old Joe, Giles & He.
In comes old Belzebub.
On his shoulder carries his club.
In his hand a frying pan.
Dont you think he's a jolly old man.

All:

Jolly old man indeed sir.

Mary.Tinker

His face is black. his beard's long
his caps tied on with a leathern thong.
Don't you think he's a jolly old man.
Some money we must get.
Some money we must jink
Please to give the fiddler a little drop of drink

{All Sing.}

[All]

Green sleaves. yiller laces.
Boys & girls dance apaces.

Notes:

Cover

Notes & sketch of Mummers
at Charney, Berks. 1860
by G.W.W.Minns
Sketch of Mummers at Charney Bassett, Berks., 1860

Caption to Charney Mummers' sketch

These are the characters & overleaf the words
of the Mummers as performed at Charney Berks
at Christmas 1860 taken down by me G W Minns

Minns' Cast List

1. Father Christmas - W Jones -
2. Duke , W. Barnes.
3. Slasher J. Woodbridge.
4. Doctor . J. Harris Spainer
5. Jack Winny - W. Jones.
6. Molly - Sam Lowe.

File History:

2022-01-21 - Encoded by Peter Millington
2024-02-22 - TEI-encoded by Peter Millington

Extras:

Dramaturgical Chart

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