Guysing) Play and Christmas Mumming (P.T.Millington Collection (1973, R.Coleman)
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Transcription
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SELSTON - PLOUGH BULLOCK NIGHT GUYSERS (GUYSING) PLAY
AND CHRISTMAS MUMMING
Noted 1st Jan. 1971 from Mr. Ralph Coleman of Moor Rd., Selston, Notts,
by Peter T. Millington.
GUYSERS - the words.
SAINT GEORGE
I open the door, I enter in,
I bet one fate that I will win.
Whether I stand, sit or fall,
I'll do my duty to please you all.
A rome, A rome.
Stir the fire and make a light,
To see these proud boys act tonight.
They've acted young, they've acted old.
BULLGUY
I am Bullguy.
A thousand miles I've travelled.
A thousand men I've slew.
I'll fill thy belly with bones and stones.
And thou shalt surely die.
(They fence and Bullguy is killed.)
DOCTOR
In comes the Doctor.
I'm a lonely doctor too.
(He moves next to the victim.)
SAINT GEORGE
Bullguy is dead.
No man can raise him.
DOCTOR
I can raise him.
(He kneels holding a bottle.)
Bullguy, take a drink of this nick nack,
Let it run down thy tick tack.
Arise and fight Saint George again.
(Bullguy rises.)
BEELZEBUB
In comes Beelzebub.
Over my shoulder I carry a club.
In my hand a dripping tin.
I'm a jolly old man.
If you don't think so, I do.
A hole in my stocking, a hole in my shoe,
Please can you spare me a copper or two.
Notes:- Mr. Coleman was born c.1900 and remembers performing the Guysers as
a child in 1907 or 1908. It was performed at night on Plough Bullock Night
(the second Monday in January). The activity was called Guysing and the
performers called Guysers or sometirnes Bullguysers (from the name of the
character. Costume basically consisted of blackened faces and
'any old rags'. The combatants carried wooden swords. The itinery
covered the Parish of Selston.
MUMMERS
Mummers went round Selston at Christmas - late at night - singing carols.
They would dress up so as to be frightening, and they carred sticks which they
pounded on the ground to mark time 'in a frightening manner.' The children
sang some special carols, though no titles were remembered. They were said
to be different from today. There was a vague positive response to the suggested
title Derby Tup.' |
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