Recruiting Sergeant [1823-1888] C.R.Baskervill (1924), pp.259-262 82sk--bc.xml mastermummers.org C.R.Baskervill Mummers' Wooing Plays in England Modern Philology Feb.1924, Vol.21, No.3, pp.259-262

Originally prepared for textual analysis during his PhD research on the 'Origins and Development of English Folk Plays' by Peter Millington (2002).

 None

Original spelling and typography is retained, except that superscripts, long s and ligatured forms are not encoded.

Line identifiers are those used for line types in the Folk Play Scripts Explorer.

 Lincs. SK---- Col. 1823 to 1888 [Not given] [Not given] Quack Doctor: Plough: Recruiting Sergeant 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

Published from a small collection of Lincolnshire plays in British Museum Additional MS 24,546, fols.46-47. 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

 04-Jun-1999 Peter Millington Entered 25-Sep-1999 Peter Millington Date & location refinements 15-Jan-2021 Peter Millington TEI-encoded 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