C.Brown (1891)
Main Variant |
Transcription
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Legend, Tradition, and Anecdote 275
Until a few years ago 'Plough Monday' was a great day
with the agricultural labourers. Bodies of them used to
parade the village streets adorned with paper finery, and
their cheeks dyed a deep red by the application of ochre,
soliciting contributions with the request 'Remember the
plough bullocks.' The writer has a distinct recollection of
a party of them visiting his father's house at night adorned
with paint and feathers, and performing a play. The
text of this grotesque representation is given in 'Hone's
Everyday Book,' as one used by Christmas mummers;
though it was customary to intersperse songs and speeches
appropriate to the occasion according to the skill of the
actors. The play commenced with one of the party
delivering the following little prologue:
'Room, a room, brave gallants, room,
Within this court
I do resort,
To show some sport
And pastime,
Gentlemen and ladies, in the present time.'
Then appear other members of the company such as a
Plough Bullock, a Turkish Knight, and St. George. The
two latter enter into a fierce encounter with swords, which
adds to the excitement of the scene. The Turkish Knight
is mortally wounded; but a doctor comes in to try and
cure him. Other actors in the play are an Old Squire,
Hub Hub, and the Box-holder.
Immediately at the close of the performance contribu-
tions were solicited, and the plough bullocks then pro-
ceeded to other farmhouses to repeat the performance,
winding up the day with a supper and jollification at the
nearest public-house. |
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