People/CharactersOld Merrythought

Old Merrythought: Character in Beaumont and Fletcher's play The Knight of the Burning Pestle (1607). The play itself is a burlesque, and Merrythought is a burlesque of the irresponsible husband, father, lower-middle-class citizen. He drinks, he ignores his duties, he sings catches and bits of ballads. But he is an amusing character in an amusing play -- and his songs are of extraordinary interest, as many of them are traditional folk songs, and Merrythought's performances are often the first known record of the songs.