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Text of the Coxbench Longsword Dance Dramatis Personae Betsy Belzebub - Black Face Fool - Black Face and Bladder Devil Dowt-Black Face & Money Box Turkish Knight Father Christmas-a soldier Bold Bonaparte-a soldier Noble Slasher Noble Captain-Black Face and Leader Venture In-a soldier St George- a soldier Doctor Prince Paradine-a soldier As the characters come in and take their part they form up thus:- 6 5 4 3 2 1 Betsy In come I Betsy Belzebub Fool (swinging a bladder to make room) Venture In I 'ope the door I'm Venture In Father Christmas In come I Father Christmas St George In come I St George Boneyparte (next fights with St Gerge) St George I'll fix a shot upon the ground Enter Slasher I am a noble soldier and Slasher is my name St George Disable it lies not in my honour Prince Paradine I am the Prince of Paradine being of high renown St George Stand off thou black treacherous dog Prince Paradine Draw out thy sword and play Noble Captain In comes I the Noble Captain A Detailed Notation of The Coxbench Long Sword Dance Figures to be danced at the Captain's discretion either long or short (long each man leading or short No. 1 only leading) 3 0r 4 figures in the first part and 4 in the second but must include Figures 1,8,9,10&11 Figure 1 Tune:Eyam Processional Form Set Clash Circle Form set by releasing swords with stamp Lay swords on ground. Step to swords. Hop Scotch 6 5 4 X B X X E X X H X K X X X X X X Music A X D X G X J M X X X X X X X C X X F X X I X L 1 2 3 All stepping Polka Step 1 phrase of Music 1 steps forward to A and steps one phrase then thus: l=left foot,r=right foot A,B.C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,M. corresponds to the letters in diagram H=hop or weight on foot h=touch with heel l AH BH DH EH I h HH JH JH KHr Bh CH DH Eh FH GH GH IH Kh LH MH polka step one more phrase 2 steps at A and then up set steps at 3's place all move up 3 follows then 6 5 4 moving up as before All step in place stamp to finish Do it so that one man steps down swords whilst next man steps at A Figure 2 Ring Tune: Three Jolly Sheepskins or Staffordshire Hornpipe Walk into clockwise Circle and clash Place sword over left shoulder, take point of person in front, pass sword over head. Step Over Your Own Sword 1 raises left hand ,turns to right over own sword, turns clockwise and faces centre followed by 2,3,4,5,6. Figure 3 Single Under Turning Right 6 5 1 4 2 3 2 & 3 face and raise their sword, 1 passes under the arch, raises right arm turns left, passess outside 3, facing the centre steps to place followed by 6 5 & 4. During which 2 crosses hands left under right, at the end turns round clockwise. After 4 has passed 3 turns counter clockwise under his left arm. Repeat each person taking the lead. Figure 4 Single Over 2&3 stoop down hold sword twelve inches above ground, 1 steps over it raises right arm, turns left, passes outside 3 to place, 6,5 & 4 follow passing under 1's sword. After 4.3 jumps sword turns left counter clockwise to resume place. Figure 5 Arches Under 4&5 make an arch, after 1&2 have passed under 1 raises right arm passes under own sword turns to his left round 5, 2 raises left arm passing under it turns to his right round 4. After passing under arch 1&2 raise arms as high as possible and facing pass sword over heads of the 4 dancers. Figure 6 Arches Over 4&5 stoop down as single over, 1&2 advance step over sword followed by 6&3, stands up turns left while 4 stands up. Figure 7 Lock Circle Lock- tie by passing left under right and right under partners left The Wheel-show Lock by passing it over head backwards from person to person. Rose-each holds own sword over Slasher's head, last beat all draw swords, (Slasher falls to ground.) Other Figures Figure 2a Over Your Neighbours Sword As 2 but over your neighbours sword. Figure 6a Double Sword Under 1&2 make arch, 6 passes under turns under right arm, faces 1 stands close to and outside 2 making second arch with 1. 3 4&5 in turn pass under the double arch turn to left and return to places 3&4 passing under 5's sword get out as double over. Figure 7a Double Sword Over 2 & 3 stoop down, 1 steps over raises left hand above head, quarter turn clockwise stoops down beside 3. Raises left hand to make arch with 6's sword, 4 steps over swords, turns left, passes round 3 & 1 to place followed by 5&6, 4&5 pass under 6's sword. When 4 has passed under 6, 3 raises right arm passes it over his head and round his left shoulder. After 6 has stepped over 3 steps over, 1 stands up half turn counter clockwise back to place, 3 turns left to place, while 2 stands up, raises both arms and turns under completely counter clockwise. The Play Continues Fool Enters Alas alas my noble son is slain St George The Noble Slasher's dead and gone Doctor Here I am who can I cure Fool Are you a doctor? Doctor Yes. That you may plainly see by my activity Fool Well! What's your fee to cure this fallen man? Doctor Ten pounds, yet if thou'st an honest man Fool Well how far have you travelled Doctor To M'aly, Pitely, Germany, France and Spain Fool And no further Doctor Yes! From fireside, upstairs and into bed Fool What can you cure? Doctor The itch, the hitch, the palsy and the gout Slasher(rises up) O my back, my back is wounded Devil Dowt with money box Enter Knight or Turkish Knight Second Part of Dance Begins-with eight Turkish Knight and Slasher in! Figure 8 Reel Tune:Grenoside Reel Walk on in to circle, stop with stamp Form circle 1,3&5 counter clockwise, 2 4&6 clockwise passing right and left shoulders holding swords vertically. Twice through. Form Set and step Figure 9 Plaiting Tune : Three Jolly Sheepskins or Staffordshire Hornpipe to quicker tempo Take hold of point of sword of man opposite and in pairs dance forward four steps and back four steps. 1,3,7,5 going forward first, turn out at top and bottom of set, repeat still set is formed. Figure 10 Roll Tune : Grenoside Roll to quicker tempo Take hold of swords as before. 1&8 raise swords and move down and over to change places with 2&7, stoop down and change places with 3&6 at same time 2&7 raise arms and turn round on own axis 2 cl 7 ccl repeat to place do same at bottomof set. Form set and step. Figure 11 Lock Tune : Grenoside Roll to quicker tempo Lock, show to audience, undo by pulling at a signal, walk off. Dancers come together in ring placing sword over left shoulder march round in step clockwise, clasping point of sword infront in left hand on or near right shoulder, changing from shoulder to shoulder every bar. Dancers turn inwards lower arms to side stand still and step. (All turn outwards to left and repeat in counter clockwise direction. No stepping.) Dancers form lock by, crossing right hand well over left, let go point of neighbours sword, using both hands presses hilt of own under point of adjacent sword. Step in line, holding up lock. Step to display Lock, continue stepping and at signal stamp to finish. March off. COXBENCH LONG SWORD DANCE FIRST VERSION First Group of Figures Ring, Step over own sword Single under, Single over, Arches under, Arches over, Clash, Lay swords on ground, Dance over, Second Group of Figures Reel, each figure to munic at increased speed. Plaiting, Roll COXBENCH LONG SWORD DANCE SECOND VERSION - WITH PLAY First Group of Figures Lay swords on ground dance over, Clash Ring, Step over own sword Single under, Single over, Arches under, Arches over, Clash, Lock Rose,Captain goes in, all draw swords, Captain falls to ground. Second Part of Play Reel, each figure to increase in speed Repeat Plaiting, Roll, Lock.
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