New Holland Mummers [1880]

No. 1.

Kind Sir, please will you have the mummers?

No. 2. {with brush.}

In comes I, little devil doubt,
if you don't give us money, I'll sweep you all out
It's money we want, it's money we crave,
if you don't give us money,
I'll sweep you to the grave.

No. 3. {with a bladder tied to a stick.}

In comes I beelzebub,
on my shoulder I carry a club,
In my hand a witleather frying pan,
I think myself a jolly young man

No.4.

In comes I, Jack Rix,
full of fun and tricks.

{Beelzebub belabours him with his bladder and knocks him to the floor.}

No. 5.

In comes I, the soldier,
Who fought the firey dragon to the slaughter,
By those means I won the King of Egypt's daughter.

No.6

In comes I, the doctor!
What can you cure?
The itch, palsy and gout,
Pains within and pains without.

{He gives Jack Rix a dose from a bottle and says,}

Rise up, you have life within,
If you can dance, I can sing.

{CHORUS.}

[All]

I can milk and plough and drive a cow,
I can reap and sow,
If in a race,
I take first place,
My name is buttercup Joe.

{Beelzebub holds out his cap to receive what the people care to give in money. They would often pass round mince pies and a glass of home-made wine, or plum-bread and cheese. The mummers would then wish them:-}

A merry Christmas and a happy New Year,
A pocket full of money and a cellar full of beer,
A good fat pig, a new lay{?} cow,
Plenty of money and nowt to do.

{They then pass on to the next house to seek- admission.}