An English Christmas

by Ann Cobb Scene laid in the great Hall ofan English Earl. Company ofyoung and old keeping Christmas. Table. Curtain rises to the song: "Christ was born on Christmas Day. " Child: Where be the mummers? 'Tis high up in the night. Earl: All in good season. Soon their bells will ring. Countess: Frolic, my babes! Ever a frolic makes Time speed away on wings. (Children play games) Children: (as the mummers enter) The mummers have come! The mummers have come! (running back to the table) Lord of Misrule: "Lord of Misrule am I, Ye Lords and Ladies high: From now till Twelfth Night, all Obey my every call." (To the mummers): "Ho! Mummers, form your ring. Old King Cole, step out on the floor. Sing, mummers all, make the welkin roar!" Song acted out by boys bringing pipe and bowl, and by the fiddlers three. King Cole: "Old King Cole was a merry old soul, A merry old soul was he; He called for his pipe, and he called for his bowl, And he called for his fiddlers three. Every fiddler, he had a fine fiddle, A very fine fiddle had he : Tweedle-dee, tweedle-de-dee went the fiddle, Then twee, then twee, tweedle-dee, tweedle-de-dee went the fiddle And so merry we'll all be." Lord of Misrule: "Look at good friend, Hobby Horse, Goes a-pacing from cross to cross. 30 Hobby Horse: (goes to children first. They pat his horse saying, "Good horsy etc." Hobby Horse goes to Lord of Misrule and speaks) "Give me your whip. This is a sorry nag." (Goes back to children) Lord of Misrule: "Sugar and spice and plenty o' plums, Jolly and plump is the pudding that comes. (Plum Pudding cart wheels to center of stage. Lord of Misrule takes cat over to the children). "Good St. Nick has sent his cat Ssss Scat! It isn't a rat She's hunting, but mean little girls and boys. Who won't mind Mommy, and smash their toys. She'll run away quick An' tell St. Nick And all he'll bring them will be a Big Stick. (Cat chases pudding round the ring and both leave the ring, turning cartwheels.) "Here in our midst we have an infidel A miscreant Saracen, with crooked sword Come to do battle in Mohammed's cause. Rise up, St. George, thou Cappadocian Saint And deal a valiant blow for Chrisendom." (they fight and St. George is wounded) "Doctor, doctor, St. George is in a swound. Oh, come and heal him of his bloody wound!" (Doctor enters and gives St. George a pill, whereat he revives) "Now for a fiercer foe, A monster from below. Man-eating Dragon, Ho!" Dragon: (stands on his head and shouts) "Stand on head! Stand on feet! Meat! Meat! Meat-for-to-eat!" (then fights with St. George who slays him) Lord of Misrule: "Now for the grandest of all Father Christmas, greet the Hall." (Children, excited go to meet him, clustering around Father Christmas, calling his name) Father Christmas: (In white. Goes over to the children on the stage) Bless you my little maids and men Be good, and mappen I'll call again. Children: We will be good. We will be good. Lord of Misrule: "One more mummer craves to be heard. New Year's Gift, come give us a word." 31 New Year's Gift: (Throws gifts at lords, ladies and children) "Gifts, gifts, from out my store: Here's more and more and more and more. (As he throws to the audience) And more and more and more and more." Lord of Misrule: (interrupting) "Farewell one, farewell all. Come, ye mummers, to King's Hall." (sound of mummers merry-making, hobby horse, St. George and the Dragon etc. After they have gone, Mistrel stands at the door.) Enter Minstrel. Girl: Lookye, lookye, coz: The mummers are come again. Boy: 'Tis but an ancient beggarly man. or Why no, 'Tis but a stranger man. 2nd Boy: Away with him: A spoil-sport he would be here at our merry feast! Countess: Fie! Fie! For shame! Has thou so soon forgot the Rime of Hospitality? (Boy...