THE DERBYSHIRE MUMMING PLAY OF
ST. GEORGE AND THE DRAGON;
OR, AS IT IS SOMETIMES CALLED,
THE PACE EGG.
COLLECTED BY GWEN JOHN.
Taken down in North-East Derbyshire in 1931. Mainly supplied by five boys living in different villages or towns; very slightly supplemented by personal recollection.
CHARACTERS.
The Fool (Old Bold Ben). Comic dress, probably patchwork, painted face, sometimes carries a bladder.
St. George. White garment with red cross or red rosettes on chest.
Slasher. Green and red. As gay as possible. Sometimes a red coat.
Doctor. Tall hat, black cardboard spectacles, medicine bottle, tail-coat.
Black Prince. Cloak, hat with feather; or any bright pink and yellow clothing, black face.
King of Egypt. Yellow and red: black face.
Hector. Pink or purple.
Beelzebub, all black; black face. Or Slip-Slop, woman's skirt and blouse and bonnet.
Little Devil Doubt. All black, blacked face, carrying broom. "Jack" is a term of familiarity applied indiscriminately.
(Note.—A black face means a face with a few smears of burnt cork on it.)
