C.R.Baskervill (1924), pp.259-262

Context

Location: town: 
[Unlocated]
SK----
Time of Occurrence: 
[Not given]
Collective name: 
[Not given]

Source

Source author: 
C.R.Baskervill
Source title: 
Mummers' Wooing Plays in England
Source publication: 
Feb.1924, Vol.21, No.3, pp.259-262

Cast

Fool / Noble Antony
Lady
Sergent / Noble Sergent
Second Riboner / Champion Bould
Third Riboner / Recruit
Dame Jane / Old Dame Jane / Old Lady
Ancient Man / Old Man

Text

[Fool]

In comes I noble Antony

as mad and as milde and as blythe

as your old Mantle Tree,

make room for noble Antony

and all his jovel company

I have four mery mery actors stands at the door

some can dance and some can sing,

if you will consent they shall come in

Lady

When I was a maid in blooming years

my pleasure was all in Pride,

my talking tonge could never be still

in service to abide,

I thought it long a young man

all in my armes to embrace

instead of a young man I met with a Clown,

was not that a sad pituful case.

Fool

a pitiful case indeed

but how can we help it.

I ho! I ho! where's all this paultring poor

still paultring in this place

yet not perfect, Farshame, Farshame,

step forward

and let your voices ring

Sergent

In am a Noble Sergent

arrived at here just now,.

My orders are to enlist all

that follow the Cart or the Plow.

likewise the noble Tradesman

their fortune to advance

Fool

I boy and I am a fool

to come to see you dance.

Sergent

you a fool come to see me dance

faith I can sing and dance fool,

[Fool]

I can neither dance sing nor say

but if you begin to sing I shall go away,

Sergent

Good people give attention

and listen to my song

I will tell you of a young man

before it be long

he is almost broken hearted

the truth I do declare

and beauty as entised him

and drawn him in a snare

Second Riboner

In comes I the champion bould,

with my bludy spere,

I won ten thousand pounds in gould.

I fought the firy dragon

and beat him to a slawter,

and by that means gain'd

the King of Egipets Dauter

I turned my slf round and if any man dare face me

I will ash him and smash him as small as flies,

I will send him to Jamacak to make mince pies.

Sergent

Though talk about ashing and smashing as small as flies

pray the fellow let us have non of these lies,

thou will raise my blood if thou says that thing.

I will stand before the if thou be some King

[Second Riboner]

No! No! no King am I you plainly see

but with my sord I will answer thee

{Dance}

[Third Riboner, or Recruit]

Behold me now I have lost my mate

my drooping wings is on fate

pity my condition I do declare

for this fals girl I am in dispare.

Sergent

Chear up mandon't be in despair

for in a short time the Lady will there;

Lady

Behold now my lady

with fortune and with charmes

so shamefully how I was throughn away,

into this loobys arms,

He swers if I don't marry him

as you may understand,

He will list for a souldier

into some foreign land.

Sergent

Madame if he consent to Marry you

as once praphaps he may

he will list for a Soldier

and from you run away

Lady

I thank you Kind Sir

for the good advice you give

I never mean to marry him

while on this earth I live,

I never mean to marry him,

I would have you for to know

I will have another sweetheart

and with him I won't go

Fool

Stand back cock me dow

let my Lady and me have a little discourse together

Madam if you will consent to marry Me

we will marry off at Hand

I have gold and silver

and that will please thee

You shall have a servant Maid

to wait at your command

if you will consent to marry me;

we will marry off at hand

Sergent

Come my Lads that has a mind for listing

come and go along with me

you shall have all kind of liquers

when you list in Company

and ten Guines then shall be your Bounty

if along with me you will go.

Your hat shall be se neatly dressed

and we will cut a gallant show.

[Recruit]

I then kind Sir, I will take your offer

the time away will sweetly pass,

Dash me if I will grieve any longer

for a proud and saucy lass.

Dame Jane

In comes the Old Dame Jane,

dabbling about in the middows,

jumping about to show your such sport,

look about you old Maids and widdows

long time I have sawght you

but now I have found you,.

Surry come take you basterd.

Ancient Man

In comes the poor old ancient man

I will speak for my self the best I can.

My old grey hairs they hang so long.

I will speak for myself the best I know.

Old Lady

Look up old man and never fere

Wipe your Eyes and you will see clere.

Old Man

Me thinks me sees you stars shine bright

unto you I fix my hearts delight

[Lady]

Away! Away! From me be gon,

do your think I will fancy an old man like you,

I look of high degree.

[Old Man]

Kich my Lady out of the door,

for I will be hang'd upon our Kitchen door

before I will come nigh you any more

Notes

Published from a small collection of Lincolnshire plays in British Museum Additional MS 33,418. The manuscript is endorsed "Purchased of E Peacock, Esq. 25 Nov. 1888". The earliest dated text in the collection is 1823.

Although the precise location is not given, it can be assumed that this play came from the same area of Lincolnshire as the other plays in the collection, which is why I have assigned it to 100km grid square SK