Giles Corey, Yeoman A Play   By: Mary Eleanor Wilkins Freeman (1852-1930)

A Play

By Mary E. Wilkins

Illustrated

New York Harper & Brothers Publishers 1893

Cast of Characters.

Giles Corey. Paul Bayley, Olive Corey's lover. Samuel Parris, minister in Salem Village. John Hathorne, magistrate. Jonathan Corwin, magistrate. Olive Corey, Giles Corey's daughter. Martha Corey, Giles Corey's wife. Ann Hutchins, Olive's friend and one of the Afflicted Girls. Widow Eunice Hutchins, Ann's mother. Phoebe Morse, little orphan girl, niece to Martha Corey. Mercy Lewis, one of the Afflicted Girls. Nancy Fox, an old serving woman in Giles Corey's house. Afflicted Girls, Constables, Marshal, People of Salem Village, Messengers, etc.

Act I.

Scene I. Salem Village. Living room in Giles Corey's house. Olive Corey is spinning. Nancy Fox, the old servant, sits in the fireplace paring apples. Little Phoebe Morse, on a stool beside her, is knitting a stocking.

Phoebe ( starting ). What is that? Oh, Olive, what is that?

Nancy. Yes, what is that? Massy, what a clatter!

Olive ( spinning ). I heard naught. Be not so foolish, child. And you, Nancy, be of a surety old enough to know better.

Nancy. I trow there was a clatter in the chimbly. There 'tis again! Massy, what a screech!

Phoebe ( running to Olive and clinging to her ). Oh, Olive, what is it? what is it? Don't let it catch me. Oh, Olive!

Olive. I tell you 'twas naught.

Nancy. Them that won't hear be deafer than them that's born so. Massy, what a screech!

Phoebe. Oh, Olive, Olive! Don't let 'em catch me!

Olive. Nobody wants to catch you. Be quiet now, and I'll sing to you. Then you won't think you hear screeches.

Nancy. We won't, hey?

Olive. Be quiet! This folly hath gone too far. [ Sings spinning song.

SPINNING SONG.

"I'll tell you a story; a story of one, 'Twas of a great prince whose name was King John. A great prince was he, and a man of great might In putting down wrong and in setting up right. To my down, down, down, derry down."

Nancy. Massy, what screeches! [ Screams violently.

Phoebe. Oh, Nancy, 'twas you screeched then.

Nancy. It wasn't me; 'twas a witch in the chimbly. ( Screams again. ) There, hear that, will ye? I tell ye 'twa'n't me. I 'ain't opened my mouth.

Olive. Nancy, I will bear no more of this. If you be not quiet, I will tell my mother when she comes home. Now, Phoebe, sing the rest of the song with me, and think no more of such folly. [ Sings with Phoebe.

"This king, being a mind to make himself merry, He sent for the Bishop of Canterbury. 'Good morning, Mr. Bishop,' the king did say. 'Have you come here for to live or to die?' To my down, down, down, derry down.

"'For if you can't answer to my questions three, Your head shall be taken from your body; And if you can't answer unto them all right, Your head shall be taken from your body quite.' To my down, down, down, derry down."

Nancy ( wagging her head in time to the music ). I know some words that go better with that tune.

Phoebe. What are they?

Nancy. Oh, I'm forbid to tell.

Phoebe. Who forbade you to tell, Nancy?

Nancy. The one who forbade me to tell, forbade me to tell who told me.

Olive. Don't gossip, or you won't get your stints done before mother comes home.

Phoebe ( sulkily ). I won't finish my stint. Aunt Corey set me too long a stint. I won't. Oh, there she is now! [ Knits busily.

Enter Ann Hutchins.

Olive ( rising ). Well done, Ann. I was but now wishing to see you. Sit you down and lay off your cloak. Why, how pale you look, Ann! Are you sick?

Ann. You know best.

Olive. I? Why, what mean you, Ann?