1988: Christmas Mumming in a North Cotswold Town. Appendix J: Excerpt from letter dated 30.6.1988, from Don Ellis to Craig Fees

Craig Fees, “Christmas Mumming in a North Cotswold Town: With Special Reference to Tourism, Urbanisation and Immigration-Related Social Change“, PhD., Institute of Dialect and Folklife Studies, School of English, University of Leeds, England (1988). 

 

Mummers. I can remember the mummers coming to our house one Boxing Day some time before the first World War. They performed in what was then our sitting room. The names of most of them I have forgotten; Ninety Griffin, Jimmey Howell, George Grinnell, Harry Keeley, I think Bob Minchin, but I am not sure about him.


I am pretty sure a Franklin played the concertina but of that I cannot swear as he would have been killed in the war. My Father in Law came to Campden as Police Superintendent in (I think) 1920, and the Mummers came to perform for the family one Christmas soon after his arrival, probably 2 or 3 years, the mummers performed in the police station guard room. I have never seen <them> do anything in the street, always in peoples' houses. Of course I was never a member, I can't give all the words, but some of them I recall. From what I remember, Beelzebub (or some such name) came in first and announced his name. I think he said something about carrying a tub, but I am not at all sure. I know he had a broom and announced about that and said something like "In comes I Beelzebub, in my hand I carries a tub (?) A room A rown a Rouse Rouse, give me room to sweep your house". He then swings the besom about and calls Come in Father Christmas, w<ho> comes in and says "In comes I old Father Christmas, Christmas now or Christmas not I hope Old Father Christmas will Never be forgot." King George is then called for and enters. The next bit is rather vague, but some Foreigner is called and enters and a fight takes place between the foreigner and King George and the King is killed. The
Doctor Is fetched with his assistant. The doctor then examines the body and proclaims that he is alive. He then tells his boy to fetch his bag, to which the boy says "Fetch it thyself" the doctor says "What's that, my boy?" the boy answers "Coming, Sir". The doctor then says, "Fetch me my pincers, boy" to which the usual answer is "Fetch it thyself" "What's that, my boy", "Coming, sir." The doctor then bends down over the patient and produces a big animal's tooth and shows it around. After something else happens, the fool comes in saying "In comes I which ant (Have not) been hit, with my big Hud (head) and lltte wit. My Hud's so big and my wit's so small. I'll play you a tune that'll please (will) you all". He then sings: My father died the other day and left me all his riches. The old tom cat with a paper hat and a pair of leather britches. House and land at my command, Dobbin in the stable. Two old chairs painted red, and a rare old kitchen table. I looked here, I looked there I looked over yonder, and there I saw the old grey goose smiling at the gander. You will most likely be able to get some more from this attempt on my part to remember. Don't forget it is about seventy years since I saw and heard this.