[From W. Kelly, _Notices Illustrative of the Drama, &c., ... from ... Manuscripts of the Borough of Leicester_ (1865), 53. The version is that ‘performed in some of the villages near Lutterworth, at Christmas 1863.’] THE CHRISTMAS MUMMERS’ PLAY. DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. 1. CAPTAIN SLASHER, _in military costume, with sword and pistol_. 2. King of England, _in robes, wearing the crown_. 3. PRINCE GEORGE, _King’s Son, in robes, and sword by his side_. 4. Turkish Champion, _in military attire, with sword and pistol_. 5. A Noble Doctor. 6. Beelzebub. 7. A Clown. _Enter Captain Slasher._ I beg your pardon for being so bold, I enter your house, the weather’s so cold, Room, a room! brave gallants, give us room to sport; For in this house we do resort,—Resort, resort, for many a day; Step in, the King of England, And boldly clear the way. _Enter King of England._ I am the King of England, that boldly does appear; I come to seek my only son,—my only son is here. _Enter Prince George._ I am Prince George, a worthy knight; I’ll spend my blood for England’s right. England’s right I will maintain; I’ll fight for old England once again. _Enter Turkish Knight._ I am the Turkish Champion; From Turkey’s land I come. I come to fight the King of England And all his noble men. _Captain Slasher._ In comes Captain Slasher, Captain Slasher is my name; With sword and pistol by my side, I hope to win the game. _King of England._ I am the King of England, As you may plainly see, These are my soldiers standing by me; They stand by me your life to end, On them doth my life depend. _Prince George._ I am Prince George, the Champion bold, And with my sword I won three crowns of gold; I slew the fiery dragon and brought him to the slaughter, And won the King of Egypt’s only daughter. _Turkish Champion._ As I was going by St. Francis’ School, I heard a lady cry ‘A fool, a fool!’ ‘A fool,’ was every word, ‘That man’s a fool, Who wears a wooden sword.’ _Prince George._ A wooden sword, you dirty dog! My sword is made of the best of metal free. If you would like to taste of it, I’ll give it unto thee. Stand off, stand off, you dirty dog! Or by my sword you’ll die. I’ll cut you down the middle, And make your blood to fly. [_They fight; Prince George falls, mortally wounded._ _Enter King of England._ Oh, horrible! terrible! what hast thou done? Thou hast ruin’d me, ruin’d me, By killing of my only son! Oh, is there ever a noble doctor to be found, To cure this English champion Of his deep and deadly wound? _Enter Noble Doctor._ Oh yes, there is a noble doctor to be found, To cure this English champion Of his deep and deadly wound. _King of England._ And pray what is your practice? _Noble Doctor._ I boast not of my practice, neither do I study in the practice of physic.