Text Fragments of Compton Mummers, Berks. - 1888

{The foregoing is the rendering of the MUMMERS' PLAY, generally given in Mid-Berkshire, but the Mummers of most parishes have slight variations. For instance, we find the Compton Mummers have amongst their dramatis personae a Turkish knight in place of a French officer. He thus announces himself:}

Turkish Knight

Yer comes I, a Turkish Knight,
Come vrom Turkeyland to vight;
I myzelf and zeven moor
Vaught a battle o' 'leven scoor -
'Leven scoor o' well-armed men
We never got conquered 'it by them.

{To whom King George replies;}

Whoa thou little veller as talks zo bawld,
'Bout thaay other Turkish chaps
I've a bin tawld.
Dray thee zoord mwoast parfic knight,
Dray thy zoord an' on to vight,
Vor I'll hev zatisvaction avoor I goes to-night.
My yead is maayde o' iron,
My body maayde o' steel,
An' if 'e wunt bele-uv muh
Jus' dray thee zoord an' veel.

{They fight.}