“My Lord 'Size”

Description

"The jailor for trial had brought up a thief" as lawyers look for work and gawkers look for sensation -- when the notice the body of Lord 'Size. Witnesses are sought and questioned. The jury is trying to reach a verdict when the body comes to life

Notes

According to Stokoe, this "is commemorative of an unlucky accident that actually occurred to one of Her Majesty's Judges of Assize, Baron Graham, about the year 1810." Though, in 1810, the King was George III and it wouldn't have been Her Majesty's Judge....

The whole thing reminds me very much of the Barrister's Dream in _The Hunting of the Snark_, though such courtroom jokes are common in English literature (see, e.g., _The Pickwick Papers_). - RBW

References

  1. Stokoe/Reay, pp. 142-144, "My Lord 'Size" (1 text, 1 tune)
  2. Roud #3164
  3. BI, StoR142

About

Author: Words: John Shield
Earliest date: 1900 (Stokoe/Reay)
Found in: Britain(England(North))