Christmas Play from Cinderford, Glos. - 1913-1916 R.J.E.Tiddy (1923) pp.161-162 91so61tr.xml mastermummers.org R.J.E.Tiddy The Mummers' Play Oxford, University Press, 1923, pp.161-162

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.

 Cinderford Gloucestershire England SO6513 Col. 1913 to 1916 Christmas [Not given] Quack Doctor: Hero/Combat: Cotswold Old Father Christmas Father Christmas Royal Prussian King Jack Vinney Jack Doctor Tom Fool Beelzebub [None] 01-Jul-1995 Peter Millington Scanned & OCRed 09-May-1998 Peter Millington Encoded 15-Sep-1999 PTM Year of collection adjusted 11-Oct-2024 Peter Millington TEI-encoded Old Father Christmas, with sword in hand, makes room. Old Father Christmas Room a Room brave gallants all, Pray give me room to rhyme; I am come to show you activity This merry Christmas time: Activity of youth, activity of age I will show you such activity that never was acted upon a common stage. Father Christmas calls the Royal Prussian King. Royal Prussian King In comes I the Royal Prussian King: Many a battle have I been in, I have fought this battle at home and abroad; I have brought the truth upon my sword. Where 's the man that dares to bid me stand ? I would cut him down with my creeagus hand, I would cut him and hew him as small as flies And send him to King George to make mince pies. Walk in Jack Vinney. Jack Vinney In comes I Jack Vinney. Where's the man that dare to bid me stand? He said he'd cut me down with his creeagus hand. A battle, a battle with him I will try, To see which on the floor shall lie. These two men with swords must fight a battle. One of them will fall and Father Christmas will call for he doctor. Father Christmas Ten pounds for a good doctor if he was but here: Doctor, do no longer stay But mount your horse and ride away. The Doctor stamps up and down and says Doctor Hold my horse, Jack. Jack Yes, Sir, I have it fast by the tail. Doctor In comes I, Doctor Hero. I was bornd at home: I have travelled many parts of the country and I am well known at home. Father Christmas Pray, Doctor, what can you cure? Doctor Oh, all sorts of diseases, Whatever my physick pleases, If it's the itch, the pitch, the palsy and the gout, If the devil is in, I can fetch him out. Now if the man is not quite dead, Rise up, bold fellow, and fight again. When hey start again the Tom Fool will walk in and dance about and stop the fight. Tom Fool In comes I as an't been it With my big head and little wit: My head so big my wit so small, I will dance a jig to please you all. Father Christmas Walk in old Beelzebub. Beelzebub carries a bowl in his hand to receive the money and has a hump on one shoulder. Beelzebub In comes I old Beelzebub and on my shoulder carries a nub and in my hand a dripping pan. Do you think I'm not a jolly old man? This one walks in with a broom and sweeps round the room and says ...Money I want and money I crave: If you don't give us some money I will sweep you all to the grave.