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CUSHION DANCE |
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printed by J. P., and sold by John Playford at his shop near the Temple Church, 1686, 7th edition.
Another version gives the words as follows :— We've got a new sister in our degree, And she's welcome into our companee, companee. Mrs. Sargesson says she weant come to, We'll make her whether she will or no,
Will or no, will or no, We'll maake her whether she will or no. Children form a ring with one in the middle, who lays a cushion on the ground. They sing the first two lines, and the child in the centre points at one, and the others dance round singing the other lines, the centre child dragging the imaginary Mrs. Sargesson on to the cushion by force, kissing her, and leaving her in the centre. Then Mrs. Sargesson points at one in the ring, and the game begins again.—East Kirkby, Lincolnshire (Miss Maughan). The tune sung is the same as the "Mulberry Bush."
Miss Baker (Noi'thamptonshire Glossary) says the Cushion Dance is still continued, with some variations, and generally closes the evening's amusements. One of the young men endeavours secretly to bring in a cushion, and locks the doors, to prevent the escape of the young maidens; then all the party unite hands and dance round three times to the left and three times to the right, after which the company all seat themselves, except the young man who holds the cushion. He advances to the fiddler, and says— .
This dance it will no further go. Fiddler: Why say you so ? why say you so ?
Cushion-holder: Because the young women will not come to. Fiddler: They must come to, they shall come to,
And tell them I say so. The cushion-holder then goes to the girl he fancies most, and drops the cushion at her feet. She kneels down with him on the cushion, and he salutes her, and they then rise and dance round and round to the fiddler. The girls then go through the same thing, saying, "young men," and then "a young man," &c, until the whole company have gone through the same ceremony, |
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