Originally prepared for textual analysis during his PhD research on the 'Origins and Development of English Folk Plays' by Peter Millington (2002).
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.
"It is the practice, though less in repute than formerly, during Christmas holidays, for companies of pitmen and other workmen from the neighbouring collieries to visit Sunderland, Durham, &c., to perform a sort of Play or Dance, accompanied by song and music.
Their appearance is hailed by the children with great satisfaction, and they receive liberal contributions from the spectators.
The dancers are girded with swords, and clad in white shirts or tunics, decorated with a profusion of ribbands, of various colours, gathered from the wardrobes of their mistresses and well-wishers. The captain generally wears a kind of faded uniform, with a large cocked hat and feather, for pre-eminent distinction; and the buffoon, or 'Bessy,'who acts as treasurer, and collects the cash in a tobacco-box, wears a hairy cap, with a fox's brush {Note 1 dependent.
The music is simple, and not devoid of harmony: its peculiar beauty depends, perhaps greatly, on the force of early associations."
Note 1 - "Query - If this was not formerly meant to represent the Lion's skinof the ancient heroes: and this is not the only classical allusion, used by the Sword Dancers, for a 'Besse' on the borders of Yorkshire, was heard to sing:
'I've liv'd among musick forty long years,
And drunk of the elegant spring.'
There can be little doubt that Helicon was the original reading."
Note 2 - "Puoy, Poy, or Pouie, a long pole with an iron spike at the end; used in propelling keels in shallow watere. - Fr. Appui. Brockett's Glossary. The Puoy on the Tyne is the Set on the Wear."
Note 3 - "At this part, the 'Bessy' sometimes considers it necessary to give some account of his own genealogy, viz;
My father he was hang'd,
My mother was drown'd in a well;
And now I'se left alone,
All by my own sel."