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Title
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Death of Nelson
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Singer
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Quidhampton Mummers
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Notes
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Edith Oliver - 'This version of the Christmas Mumming Play was passed down verbally through generations of Quidhampton Mummers, and was last performed in 1913. It is now written down for the first time, at the actual dictation of some of the last of the Mummers. Each man had only learnt his own part, and none of them had a scrap of paper with which to refresh his memory after all these years. The Mummers were most careful to recite the words as they had heard them, without any attempt to alter them if they were incomprehensible. Mr Cousins of Quidhampton [who as a boy, used to go about with the Mummers, helping them to carry their properties] was able in most cases to piece the parts together, and so to recall the shape of this very ancient play.
Transcribed and edited by Chris Wildridge, 2008.
