John Jones to Thomas Pennant, 2 August 1777 Warwick WCRO TP4 items 9–10

NoyeThe following text from the Chester Water leaders and drawers' play on the 'History of the Deluge', 'copied from the MS. in the Bodleian Library', is included in A tour in Wales 1770 [1773], I, pp. 140–3. The printed text is used to supply the deficiencies of the manuscript, which is damaged by water marks. For a useful recent discussion, see Sheila Christie, 'Speculum Urbis: The Chester Cycle as a Tool of Social Cohesion and Transformation', The Yearbook of English Studies, Vol. 43, Early English Drama (Modern Humanities Research Association, 2013), pp. 140–55. Wyfe come in whie stands thou there Thou arte ever froward that sure I sweare Come in on Gods half tyme it were For Feare lest that wee drowne, Noes Wief You Sir sett up your Sayle And rowe forth with evill Hayle For withouten Land fayle I will not out of this grove But I have my Gossopes evry ech one One fote further I will not gone They shall not drown, by Saint John And I maye save ther lyves They loved me full well by Christ But thou wilt lett them into thie chest, Ellis row forth may when thou liste And get thee another wief Noye Sem Sonne nowe thie mother is war o woe By god faith another I doe not knowe Sem Father, I shall fetch her in, I trow Withouten anie faile Mother my father after thee sends And biddes thee into younder Ship wends Looke upe and see the Winds For we bene readie to sayle Noye's Wief Sonne go agayne to him and saye I will not come therein to daye Noye Come in wief in twentie Devill waye Or allis stand there without Cham Shall we all fetch her in Noye Yea Sonnes in Christs Blessing and mine I would ye hied yea betyme For of this flood I stand in doubt The good gossopes. The flood comes fleeting in apace One every side it spredeth full fare For feare of drowning I am agast Good gossopes let us draw neare And let us drink are we depart For ofte tymes we have done so For at a draught thou Drinks a quart And so will I doe or I goe. Here is a pottell full of Malmesay good & strong It will rejoyce both hart and tong Though Noy think us never so long Yet we will drink a tyte Japhet Mother we pray you altogether For we are here your owne Children Come into the ship for feare of the wedder For his love that you bought Noye's wief That I will not far all your Call But I have my gossopes all Sem In Faith Mother yet you shall Whether you will or mongst Noe Well me Wief into this Boate Noe's wyfe Have you that for thie noteThe printed version gives stage directions here: '[Gives Noah a box in the ear.]'. See A tour in Wales 1770 [1773], I, p. 142. Noe A ha Mary this is whote It is good to be still A Children methink my Boat remeves Our tarrying here heughly me greves On the Land the water spreads God doe as he will

John Jones Oxford 2 August 1777 Thomas Pennant Downing English
Sir Oxford Aug: 2 1777

I take this Opportunity to acknowledge the recipt of both your Letters, and to give you Mr Price's Thanks and mine for your obliging Invitation. Mr Price has just put into my Hands a M.S. of his with the following

The Number of the Hundreds Parish Churches and Fairs together with the Names of all chief Lordships, Market Towns Forests and great W Deer Parks Ports Havens chief Mountains and Hills, notable Monasteries Priories, Frieries, and Nunneries in all the counties of Wales And also the of divers of of every of the said Shires, and the names of and Dwelling Places – with brief notes of the nature of the Soil Quality of the People and Government in every , and the present State of the est Towns in the the length and Breadth, and a near Guess of or Bigness of every Shire reduced into Square Miles according to the Scale of Master Saxton's Mapps – first ted by George Owen Henllys Pembrokeshire Anno Domini 1602 –

MrPrice desires his best Complim ts that you are wellcome to make what use you please MS If you are desirous of a Copy of the play, I beg you will let me know, and I will as possible, as I have now to the Bodleian at Mr Price having appointed me to succeed . I hope therefore for the future you will commands without any apologies or Be assured the of them will greatest

Sir, your most obedient humble Servt. Jno Jones

P.S. Please to add the Initial of my Christian Name to your Directions to me here: to prevent Mistakes

[handwritten:] + Post

To Thomas Pennant Downing near Northop Flintshire