Broughton Play [Lincs.] - Text B - 1824 C.R.Baskervill (1924), pp.250-258 82sk95bb.xml mastermummers.org C.R.Baskervill Mummers' Wooing Plays in England Modern Philology Feb.1924, Vol.21, No.3, pp.250-258

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

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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.

 Broughton Lincolnshire England SK9154 Dated 1824 Christmas [Not given] Quack Doctor: Plough: Multiple Wooing Merryman Introducer Noble Anthony Clown Amorous George Lady 1st Ribboner Wooer Rib Courteous Knight 2n Ribboner Wooer 2 Rib Laywer 3 Ribr. Wooer Fathers Eldest Son Husbandman Old Ancient Man Wooer Jane Old Woman Jinny Peter Millington's Notes:

Although the play text is identified as coming from Broughton, in the geogaphical context of the whole collection of texts, this is likely to be a shortened representation of Brant Broughton near Bottesford. Plain Broughton is in northern Lincolnshire.

 06-Aug-1996 Peter Millington Entered 15-Jan-2021 Peter Millington TEI-encoded Enter Merryman Merryman Gentlemen and Ladies Im' com'd to see you all This merry time of Christmas, I neither knock nor call; I come in so brisk and bold with confidence I say. What can you expect of a Fool wich knows no other way. for A Fool I know I am indeed and so do you. for fools and little children for most parts speaks true. My name is noble Anthony as live and as blyth and as mad and as melancholy as A mantletree make room for noble Anthony and all his Jovial Company. Lady When I was a maid in blooming years my pleasure was all in pride. My tatling tongue could never lie still in service to abide. I thought it long all in my Arms a young man to embrace instead of a man I met with a Clown is not that a sad pitiful Case. Merryman A very pitiful case indeed Madan Heigh O were is all this paultry and poor Still paultry in this place and yet not perfect for shame step forth peoples eyes looks dim with the very red expectations. 1st Ribboner How now me Hamorous George as live and as blyth and as mad and as melancholy as a Mantletree. What play have you got here today. Merryman play boy, 1st Ribboner Yes play I look upon the title of the spectimony once a year you old scallibush nothing but parch pennyworth tuffcoat calely old calleymufus you rolling, bolling bangling fool stand out of my sight. Merryman Zounds what a man have I got here 1st Ribboner you quiet mistaken in me. i'm no talker Im a Juggler. I can shew you the trick of the twelves, as many tricks as there is days in A year toils and moils and motes in the Sun. I have them all upon my Finger end Jack and the loft quick and be gone. Merryman now man I warrent tee 1st Ribboner Hey now man I see thou can do something, hold thy hand, here's a Shilling for thy labour; take that to the paultry of thee poor and thus to them say, thou hast quiet lost the title of this play, callyflaskin jest shall slenge our sight and you shall hear a new delight. 1st Rbr. to the Lady Well met fair Lady in this place, the exercise that is in the shall over Shed the fairest face, when beauty comes on high degree since once to you I've told my mind I pray fair Lady dont be unkind It is your beauty makes me stay. I shall go blind and loose my way. Lady Courteous Knight how must this be. You will no answer take of me you look so great I do declare you come to me but in a jeer. 1st Ribboner A jeer dear love it is not so. I'll make it known before I go. before I go hence from this place, I will obtain your comely face. Lady Away away from me begone, a witty man for me or none! 2n Ribboner Aman for wit I am the best that ever did to you express I have such causes underhand no man like I can understand Lady A lawyer as I suppose you be you plead your cause so wittily but by and by I'll tell you plain the cause you plead it's all in vain 2n Ribboner My wit it never did me fail, if not for hopes it would prevail If not for hopes my heart would burst and in your love Il'l put my trust Lady Away away out of my sight, go and talk along with yon fair Knight 1st Ribboner and 2n Ribboner Sing be she gone be she gone farewell I care not for if she has a pretty thing I've had my share on't, For if she's more Land than me by one half acre I'v plow'd and sown in her Ground let the Fool take her - 3 Ribr. I am my Fathers eldest Son and heir to all his Lands I hope in a short time it will all fall in my hands. I was brought up at linsey coat all the days of my life, I'm walking with this Lady fair I wish she were my wife. with fingers long and rings upon are made of pure Gold. good Master and good Mistress I would have you here behold. Lady It is my clothing you admire its not my company you desire so farewell I'll bid adieu. Step in kind sir here's room for you. Husdandman Husbandman In comes I the Husbandman upon my principal for to stand. I'm come to woo this Lady fair to gain her love thats all I care Lady To gain my love that never will do you speak so clown if I to woo. Husbandman Hiv'e cart, Hiv'e plow, Hiv'e husbandry, Hiv'e Gold and Silver enough for the, Hiv'e something will do the good will nourish thy veins and warm thy blood. Hiv'e something else for the beside if thou'l consent to be my bride Lady My fathers working in his loom my Mothers spinning hard at home their Dinners they'v got their Suppers they want so pray you be gone and give me your room. Old Ancient Man In comes I the Ancient Man to speak for myself the best I can, my old Grey locks they hing so low speak for myself the best I know. Lady Cheer up old man and never fear Wipe thy Eyes and thou'l see clear. Old Ancient Man I I me thinks me see the stars shine bright me'e's com'd to yar me heart delight. Lady Does tee think I could fancy such an Old man as thee. No I'll have one of an high degree. Old Ancient Man Why then kick mee Ladie out of the room. I'll be hang'd over our Kitchen door before I'll come to court y'a any more. Lady Take your porridge face away. Old Ancient Man My porridge face is as handsome as y'-rs and ugly enough too-) Jane I comes Jane with along neck'd Crane com'd Dabling over the meadow she's fib'd before to shew you some sport look about you old Maids and Widows. long have I sought but now I have found my joy and only astard. since you have said so and call'd me hore Sarrah come take your Bastard Merryman Bastard T'is none of mine its not a bit like me. I'm a valiant Knight just come from sea you never heard talk of me before did ye. I kill'd ten men with a mess of mustard, ten thousand with my bright Sword. Jane I have a sheep skin to lap them all in look about you old maids and Widows, Merryman had I been aman in this country known and my valoured been shown Sound Music Sound. A Dance Merryman Stop abit I have abit of a Song to Sing to my Lady before I go I'll snipe my Eyes and clear my Nose and see what I can do before I go Sings My Love my dove my duck my dear one pleasant smile my heart will cheer but if on me you cast one frown I greatly fear it will knock me down Lady sings Lady Indeed kind Sir since you say so to banter me that never will do. when I become a Married Wife, then after follows care and Strife Merryman sings again Merryman Alas sweetheart you are mis-tain for more than that I'll tell you plain, A maiden she may come and go through toil and moil through care and woe where a married wife may sit at rest pray tell to me wich lifes the best. Lady sings Lady Indeed kind Sir since you have said so Along and along with you I'll go. I'll wed with none but only you to all these gallants I'll bid adieu - Merryman Adieu and Adieu to all but you my Dear. You may all behold and see but its the fool that leads away the Ladie Away Merryman Im come to invite you to my Wifes Wedding and mine and what you like the best you may bring along with you how the duce should I know what you all like some likes fish and some likes flesh and some likes kissing and some likes, furmity But Il'l tell you what me Lady and mee have wee'l have A leg of A lark wel'l have A louse to roast wel'l have a farthing loaf and A good thumping toast we will provide for the wedding as fast as ever we may we will have a jovial wedding the fiddle shall merrily play 3 Riboners And Lady dance Merryman now our sport is Ended you'v heard our voices ring I hope you'r well contented so God save the King. we're not the London acsters that acts in London court, we are the Country Plougboys just com'd from plow and cart we are not the London actsers I told you so before we have done the best we can so the best can do no more So I hope you'r well contented with what we have shown you here I wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year, and what you please to my box and a sup of your Strong Beer. 3 Ribboners Sing The Three Ribboners God bless the Master of this House and send him long to reign A many A merry Christmas we wish to see him again, amongst our Friends and Neighbours that live both far and near. I wish you a merry Xmas and a happy New Year Thomas Carr 1824.