The Brown Edge and Biddulph Moor Mumming play.
This play was collected from a lady (whose name escapes me at the moment) in 1966 by John Levit. She lived at Biddulph moor but came from Brown Edge as a child. She remembered the play being performed in local pubs primarily at christmas time.
Characters
King George The Prince of Paradise
Slasher Bealzebub
The Doctor The Little Devil Doubt
Devil Doubt
Open this door to let in,
For I am one bound to win.
Whether I rise or whether I fall
I’ll do my duty to please you all.
A room, a room which I desire,
Stir up this fire, and make a light,
For to see this Jovial act by night
I act by night, I act by day,
I mean to act this jovial act before I go way
If you don’t believe these words I say,
Step in King George and clear the way.
King George
Here art I, King George
The Noble champion bold, of all the world,
With my bright buckled sword down my side
I won ten thousand pounds in Gold
Because I have fought the fiery dragon
And bought him to the slaughter
By these means I won the King of Egypts daughter
Slasher
Here am I Slasher,
Brave, bold, gallant slasher,
Slasher is my name,
The Turkish Moor, a knight of fame
If I fought a fight with thee,
I fear thou art not able
For as I draw my glittering sword
I’m sure I‘ll thee disable.
King George
Disable, disable?
I’m not in thy power
If I draw my glittering sword
I’m sure I’ll thee devour
Stand back Slasher, let no more be said
If I draw my glittering sword
I’m sure to break thy head
Slasher
How canst thou break mine head
For my head is made of iron, my body of steel
My hands of fearsome knuckle bone
I’ll challenge thee to a fight
Slasher fights and falls
Devil Doubt
Call in the prince
The Prince of paradise
Here am I the prince, the prince of paradise
King George King George
What hast thou done
Thou has killed and slain mine only son, mine only heir
Look there he lies a bleeding there.
I will pay a thousand pounds
A doctor to engage
Devil Doubt
A doctor a doctor?
What Kind of doctor?
The Doctor
Make way make way
For I am a doctor!
Devil Doubt
Since when, since when.
How becomes thou a doctor?
Doctor
Form Italy, Sicily, Germany, France and Spain
I have now come to cure diseases in old England again.
King George
What diseases canst thou cure
Doctor
All sorts
King George
All sorts, what kind of ailment is that?
Doctor
It’s the Itch, the twitch, the palsy and gout
The pain that’s within and the pain without
I’ve cured a man with 15 devils in his soul
And cast 20 out
Surely I can cure this poor chap.
Here take a little out of my bottle
And let it run down thy throttle
If thou are not quite slain
Then rise up to fight again
Slasher
My Back my back
Doctor
What’s amiss with thy back
Slasher
My Back is wounded
My Heart is confounded
To be struck out of seven senses into four score
Likewise I have never seen it before
Beelzebub
Here am I old Beelzebub
Over my shoulder I carry my club
In my hand a dripping pan
I think myself a jolly old man
Put up these swords and spears to rest
As peace and quietness is the best
Ive lived in houses lands and cities
Ive sung all the songs and the ditties
Ive seen the men eating dumplings and pancakes
Ive seen Bulls and piglets running up the street
Old peter comes up with a turmit cart and got struck on the crown
And made him shout termits all over the town.
Little Devil Doubt
Here am I Little Devil Doubt
If you don’t give me money I shall sweep all of you out
Money I want and money I crave
If you don’t give me money I’ll sweep you to the grave
Now ladies and gents as you sit at your ease
Put your hand in your pocket
And give what you please
If you haven’t got a copper a silver will do
Pull out your purse and give us a few.