The Silverton Mummers' Rhymes - 1873 H.E.Fox-Strangways (1899 or 1900) 87ss90fs.xml mastermummers.org H.E.Fox Strangways The Silverton Mummers' Rhymes [with covering letter to Mrs. Eden] Thomas Fairman Ordish Collection, Folklore Society, The Warburg Institute, University College London, 1889 or 1900.

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.

 Silverton Devon England SS9502 Perf. About 1873; Col. 1899 or 1900 Christmas Mummers Quack Doctor: Hero/Combat: Southern English Doctor General Hill Spanish General Spn. Genl. Admiral Howe Father Christmas F. Christs. Dame Dolly Son Room King of Egypt St. George Turkish Knight Turk Prince Valentine Pn. Val. Valiant Soldier Bold Slasher Giant Little Page Dame Dorothy Bonaparte King of Spain Little Man Jack Tippoo Cornwallis Admiral Nelson Collingwood

[Covering letter to Mrs. Eden - extract]

"Ever believe me, dear Mrs. Eden.

Very sincerely Yours.

H.E. Fox Strangways.

It is no wonder you failed to get a printed version of the Mummers rhymes - for none existed when I saw it acted twenty five years ago, and it is quite discontinued now I'm afraid & probably forgotten. I wrote this down from 'S.George's' lips - I made him come & recite it to me."

In another hand, the covering letter is marked "? 1899 or 1900" This date is credible, because other dated folk plays were collected by Mrs. Eden about then (I.Gatty (1948) Folk-lore, Vol.59, pp.16-34. Also, Father Christmas gives his age as 1873. It seems likely that this was the year of performance, which would be in line with Mrs. Fox-Strangways memory.

 08-Nov-2000 Peter Millington Encoded 27-Oct-2001 PTM Cast list added 15-Jan-2021 Peter Millington TEI-encoded 30-Jun-2022 Peter Millington Missing Std.IDs added Doctor Ladies and Gentleman, I beg your kind permission, We are going to entertain you with a grand exhibition - Of all fights & wars to you I will rehearse - I will repeat it to you all in verse. Gentlemen now at the door do stand, They will walk in with drawn sword in hand. If you don't believe in what I've got to say, Let General Hill walk in, & boldly clear the way. General Hill Well, my brave countrymen, with joy Are you the men whose noble heart & tender care Has made these rocks and friends so dear - What say, my friend, I see thou hast not done My whole instructions in our native lon land Doctor All hail, Genl. Hill, and with delight I see thou be The Saviour of old England's country. - Dost thou belong to all Britain's united phrase I think we've got a cheerful voice, then let us raise they sing "Britannia! Britannia rules the waves Britons never shall be slaves" Genl. Hill All hail that glorious news that fires my heart To hear of Bonny's downfall, & the honour of peace! Although on these foundations do I build my fame To "injulate" sic that great and Roman name. Spanish General I am the Spanish General Just come from the Rock of Gibraltar And now to make the Crown of Spain The British "old jovial" sic , the sons of the main. General Hill I'll first let you know who you are to engage It's General Hill inspires your rage Who puts not his trust in the shows of the Pope But in the God of Battles do I put my hope. Spn. Genl. Ah! Hill it is vain for thee to oppost Such a handful of men to my numerous host! Although in thy small garrisons I pity thy distress It's not in my power to give thee thy redress. Genl. Hill Although in my small garrisons do I put my trust, I'm not to be smoted by thy numerous host, Although thy gunboats & batteries make a loud noise At least they don't down daunt our brave British boys Who to our Queen & country & lovers prove true For thy mighty forces to subdue. We want not for skill nor courage nor conduct at all But I'd rather press on thee with hot & cold ball. Spn. Genl Ah! Hill shouldn't thou have courage to enter Or yet suffer one transport to venture - There was such a reinforcement in Dover we have! I'd rather be taken, than smitten to a watery grave. Genl. Hill No number at all - do I meditate Canst thou remember in Spain what was thy fate There was an engagement there where I made thee comply And a fleet of men before me to fly. So now press on, and draw forth thy sword And see who obtains the victory. They fight, and the Spanish general is killed Enter Admiral Howe Admiral Howe Here comes I brave Admiral Howe, my exploits to make known Who fought the French all on the sea, & made them bow to England's crown Who fought the French all on the sea, my honour to advance The fleet we met we did defeat, & retired to proud France. Enter Father Christmas. Father Christmas Here comes I, poor old Father Christmas, welcome or welcome not I hope poor old Father Christmas will never be forgot. Christmas comes but once a year And when he comes he brings good cheer And when he's gone he's never the near My head is big, my back is bent My knees be weak, & my days is almost spent. Father Christmas Eighteen hundred & seventy three It's a very great age for me And if I'd been sucking all these years What a monster I should be! Now I come but a short time to stay And if you don't believe what I've forgot to say Let my wife Dolly come in, & boldly clear the way. Dame Dolly Here comes I, little Dame Dolly, Drinking gin is all my folly, I'm not like the little maidens in May, I don't think much of drinking tay - And my son John he's down below, If you don't believe what I've got to say, Let my son Room come in, & boldly clear his way. Enter 'Son Room' Son Room Brave gallants all give room - We all come here this night to show you sport & pastime Sport & pastime is all our mirth We are called upon to act St. George's birth. Let bells ring loud, and music play! I pray let the King of Egypt - come in & boldly clear his way. Enter King of Egypt King of Egypt Here comes I the King of Egypt, see how grand he doth appear St. George, St. George he is my son, my only son & heir. St. George come on, & boldly act thy part And let the jovial company see thou hast a noble heart. St. George Here comes I - S. George, that valiant knight I'll spill my blood for old England's right, Old England's right will I maintain I'll fight for old England once and again - But now I'm come to understand That some proud Turk has placed his foot on English land - Fight him will I, if I'm sure to be slain, As long as I've one drop of blood to circulate in any vein. nter Turkish Knight Turkish Knight Here come I the Turkish knight Just come from the Turkish land to fight Fight thee, S. George, thou man of courage bold And if thy blood is hot, soon will I fetch it cold. S. George To whom, to whom & you that saucy challenge give? Turk To thee, to thee, thou English dog, no longer shalt thou live. Draw out thy sword & fight, pull out thy purse & pay, For satisfaction will I have before I go away. S. George No satisfaction shalt thou have, no satisfaction shalt thou crave For in ten minutes time I'll make thee a Turkish slave. So now prepare, draw forth thy sword, & see who gets the Victory. They fight & the Turk is overthrown. S. George raises him up - saying S. George Arise, thou Turkish dog, and to thy homans sic go and tell What champions bold do in fair England dwell. Enter Prince Valentine Prince Valentine Here comes I, Prince Valentine, that man of high renown Soon shall that lofty courage of thine, St. George, come tumbling down. S. George Ah! Prince Valentine, art thou come with sword in hand Against S. George that no man can withstand! Pn. Val. Yes, yes, S. George, with thee I mean to fight And with one blow I'll let thee know I'm not the Turkish knight. Although the Turk deny th'Atoning Blood, we won't to them surrender But yet I'll fight with thee S. George, thou noble heart defender. S. George Ah! Prince Valentine, S. George is in this very room Thou'rt come in this unlucky hour, to seek thy fatal doom. They fight, Pr. V. falls - all sing All Here lies the body of Prince Valentine The darling of our crew No more he'll hear the trumpet sound For death has brought him to. S. George Is there a doctor to be found? That will try to heal this worthy champion of his deep & deadly wound. Doctor Yes yes S. George there is a doctor that will try To heal this worthy champion of his deep and deadly wound. S. George What made thee doctor? Doctor My travels. S. George Pray give me some of them. Doctor Yes yes S. George, - From the front door to the cupboard cupboard to the fireplace, fireplace & to bed. S. George Very short travels indeed doctor. Pray give me some of your longer ones. Doctor Yes yes S. George, I've travelled through England Ireland, Scotland, Flanders, France & Spain And by good luck & fortune I returned To old England again. S. George What is thy fee? - Doctor Five Pounds, & a hot roll, to thee. S. George Very good, well, but here, 'tis a cold & frosty morning Pray heal this man - Doctor Ladies & gentlemen, I've a little bottle of medicine That goes by the name. Of virtue & fame That will make the worthy champion rise & fight again. Pn Val. gets up & walks off Enter Valiant soldiers Valiant Soldier Here comes I, the valiant soldier Bold slasher is my name With sword & buckler by my side In hopes to win the game. My head is not of iron, my body is not of steel My breeches isn't thickest skin, but I'll fight thee S. George for all thy skill. S. George From whence art thou? From England Ireland Scotland Flanders France or Spain? Valiant soldier I'm a champion, don't be surprised - I've come here on purpose to make thee my prize St. George I'll prove thous't come to thy fatal death. Prepare! - Draw forth thy sword For thou surely shalt lose thy breath. Enter Giant Giant Here comes I, the Giant great Just waiting for another meat If I could catch thee in my claws With my sharp teeth & jaws Marrow from thy bones I'd squeeze And suck thy blood all by degrees. Slay thee too, St. George will all my might & main And twenty thousand more before I return again. Enter little page Little Page Hold, hold, St. George, I pray thee stand by, I'll conquer him, or else I'll die 'Long with that hero I will engage Although I am but a little page. S. George Fight on, my little page, and conquer And don't thou be perplext For if thou discourage in this field Fight him will I next. They fight, the little page falls Giant Though little man, great words they was he spake to me, And there he lies all on the floor, as you can plainly see. S. George Ah! cruel monster see what havoc thou hast made See the lovely stripling all on the floor is laid - Thy life for this! thy body I will slay - Come on my lads, and carry this little page away! kills the giant Carry away the dead, Father - Father Christmas Let's see whe-er he's dead or no first, Georgy, I thinks he's dead enough Georgy - S. George Carry him away then, Father - F. Christs. Thee's killed him, thee can carry him away - S. George If you can't carry him, call for help - F. Christmas Dree or vower three or four o'you great loggerheaded vellers, come in, and carry him away. Enter Dame Dorothy Dame Dorothy Here comes I, little Dame Dorothy Flap port & good morrow t'ye My head is big, my body is small I'm the prettiest little jade among you all Knock, Knock, S. George I pray stand by, And let little Dame Dorothy pass by. S. George Oh you wicked old jade, I'll commit your body to a watery grave - They sing They Oh see, oh see, what hast thou done Thou'st killed our aged mother! S.George Is there a doctor to be found That will try & heal this lady of her deep & deadly wound. Doctor Yes, yes, S. George, there is a doctor to be found, That will try & heal this lady of her deep & deadly wound. S. George Pray cure this old lady. Doctor Ladies & gentlemen, I have a little bottle of pills in my pocket That will cure all strange diseases hereafter & to come That will cause this here old lady to rise away & run Ladies & gentlemen shall have my advice gratis - Enter Bonaparte Bonaparte Here comes I, bold Bonaparte, With my broadsword I'll make the King of Spain to smart. Enter King of Spain King of Spain Here comes I, the King of Spain To fight that swaggering Bonarparte for my country once again. Enter little man Jack Little Man Jack Here comes I, little man Jack The master of giants - If I could but conquer thee, S. George - I'd bid the world defiance. S. George Suppose thou art little man Jack, the master of all giants, I'll take thee up upon my back, & carry thee out with violence. Enter Tippoo Tippoo Tippoo is my name, & India is my right What force or power can withstand The forces of this British land I have 80,000 fleet that will fight at my command. And eighteen of them now will before me stand - Soon will I let Cornwallis know That India's hills with English blood shall flow - Cornwallis Why, Tippoo, why, dost thou so vainly boast Or make mention of thy mighty host - What's all thy force when English blood is heated And by the English thou always wast defeated. Tippoo Me! defeated! Don't talk so fast Not a dog like thee shall my honour blast - As long as I have strength to lift this point of steel I'd rather die a hero, than live a coward still - Cornwallis Thou say'st thou'dst rather die - Than to our English terms comply - I'm the man to strike thee with a blow - That shall chill thy blood, and make thy tears to flow Enter Admiral Nelson Admiral Nelson Here comes I, brave Admiral Nelson See how grandly he doth show - I have but one arm, & a good one too With my mighty arm I make both men & fleets to fall We meet these French dogs all on the coast of Spain And we intend to give a broadside before we return again Old England expects every man to do his duty & stand to his gun And we'll soon make those French dogs run. They fight. Nelson falls S. George Is there a doctor to be found That will try to cure this champion of his deep & deadly wound? Doctor Yes, yes, S. George &c - Ah! Nelson! British hero! How art thou fallen Thine is a deep and deadly wound To thee the truth I'll tell. Help! Help! -- shall I cry help again To carry poor Nelson from the place where he was slain - See the tears on his either cheek - Britons! our Nelson's dead! But he is not in the arms of the dead, but the Living God. Collingwood Here comes I, bold Collingwood Who fought the French and boldly stood - And now the life of that bold Briton's gone I'll put the crown of victory on. He takes the crown off Nelson's head, and puts it on his own. Collingwood ? Ladies & gentlemen, our sports are all ended. Prepare for the box, which is highly commended - The box would speak, if it had but a tongue So now prepare, and give them a song. They all sing All "Every man is expected his duty to do" Was the last signal made by the British fleet crew Be your watchword like Nelson's, ye sons of the main Then ye'll fight, and ye'll conquer again & again. Chorus Huzza! Huzza! The army & navy huzza! We'll ne'er find such men as the navy huzza! Success to old England, the land of the free Success to our Sovereign, the Queen of the sea! Success to all sailors the lords of the main! Success to our Army and Navy again! Huzza! Huzza! Huzza! ad lib