Guise-Dance Play, Saint Keverne [Cornwall, 1855]

{Enter Father Christmas.}

Father Christmas.

Here comes I, old Father Christmas
Welcome or welcome not;
I hope old Father Christmas
Will never be forgot.
I've not come to laugh nor jeer,
But I've come to taste your beer;
I'll have some Christmas cake or bun.

{He raps his stick on the ground, saying -}

Come on, my children, come on!

{Enter Turkish Knight.}

Turkish Knight.

Here comes I, the Turkish Knight,
Come from Turkish lands to fight;
First I fought in Ireland, then I fought in Spain,
Now I've come to England's land, to fight King George again.

{Enter King George}

King George.

Here comes I King George,
A man with courage bold;
If your blood is hot,
I soon will make it cold.

{King George and Turkish Knight fight with swords, one falls.}

F.C.

Is there a doctor to be found,
To cure this deep and deathly wound?

{Enter Doctor.}

Doctor.

Yes, there is a doctor to be found,
To cure this deep and deathly wound.

{He steps forward, saying-}

I've got a little box in the west side of my breeches,
That goes by the name of Elecampane;
Drop a little on this poor man's lips,
And that will bring him to life again.

F.C.

What can you cure?

Doctor

The hesick, pesick, pox and gout,
If there are ninety-nine devils in,
I can drive them out.

{Enter Little Man Jack, grotesquely dressed and carrying on his back the effigy of a woman.}

Little Man Jack.

Here comes I, Little Man Jack,
Carrying my wife upon my back...

{He throws his "wife" to the ground, and all sing and dance until offered food, drink, or money.}

{Finis.}