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THE Revesby Sword Play, entitled "Morrice Dancers at Revesby" and dated October 20, 1779, in the manuscript, has had a major influence on those concerned with folk drama and those attempting to relate this tradition to "pre-Shakespearean" drama. The play was first noted by Henry Ellis in 1813 in his revision of Brand's Popular Antiquities, in which we find a brief description-probably paraphrased from the manuscript-a listing of the dramatis personae, and a short passage quoted.' Apparently this manuscript was given to Sara Sophia Banks in 1780, for her name (S. S. Banks) and this date appear in the upper left corner of folio 2' in a hand differing from the others in the manuscript. Earlier in the manuscript is the following information: "Ms. of the 'Revesby Mumming Play' taken down in Oct 1779 as played at Revesby. given by Sir H. Ellis to W. J. Thoms & by him to Mr. Gomme."2 Thus it appears that the manuscript was copied down during performance by someone unknown and given to Miss Banks no sooner than two and one-half months later.