The Traditional Games of England Scotland and Ireland Vol I by Alice Bertha Gomme

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Title: The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland (Vol I of II)
With Tunes, Singing-Rhymes and Methods of Playing etc.

Author: Alice Bertha Gomme

Release Date: December 29, 2012 [EBook #41727]

Language: English

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Title page

A DICTIONARY

OF

BRITISH FOLK-LORE

EDITED BY

G. LAURENCE GOMME, Esq., F.S.A.

PRESIDENT OF THE FOLK-LORE SOCIETY, ETC.

PART I.

TRADITIONAL GAMES

BY THE SAME EDITOR.

Small 4to. In Specially Designed Cover.

ENGLISH SINGING GAMES.

A Collection of the best Traditional Children’s Singing Games, with their
Traditional Music harmonised, and Directions for Playing. Each Game, Text
and Music, is written out and set within a Decorative Border by Winifred
Smith, who has also designed Full-page Illustrations to each Game, and
Initials and Decorative Border to the playing directions.

[All rights reserved.]

THE

TRADITIONAL GAMES

Of England, Scotland, and Ireland
Of England, Scotland, and Ireland

WITH

TUNES, SINGING-RHYMES, AND METHODS OF PLAYING

ACCORDING TO THE VARIANTS EXTANT AND

RECORDED IN DIFFERENT PARTS

OF THE KINGDOM

COLLECTED AND ANNOTATED BY

ALICE BERTHA GOMME

VOL. I.

ACCROSHAY-NUTS IN MAY

LONDON

DAVID NUTT, 270-71 STRAND

1894

TO

MY HUSBAND

PREFACE

Soon after the formation of the Folk-lore Society in 1878 my husband planned, and has ever since been collecting for, the compilation of a
dictionary of British Folk-lore. A great deal of the material has been put in form for publication, but at this stage the extent of the work presented
an unexpected obstacle to its completion.

To print the whole in one alphabet would be more than could be accomplished except by the active co-operation of a willing band of workers,
and then the time required for such an undertaking, together with the cost, almost seemed to debar the hope of ever completing arrangements for
its publication. Nevertheless, unless we have a scientific arrangement of the enormously scattered material and a close comparison of the details
of each item of folk-lore, it is next to impossible to expect that the full truth which lies hidden in these remnants of the past may be revealed.

During my preparation of a book of games for children it occurred to me that to separate the whole of the games from the general body of folk-
lore and to make them a section of the proposed dictionary would be an advantageous step, as by arranging the larger groups of folk-lore in
independent sections the possibility of publishing the contemplated dictionary again seemed to revive. Accordingly, the original plan has been so
far modified that these volumes will form the first section of the dictionary, which, instead of being issued in one alphabet throughout, will now be
issued in sections, each section being arranged alphabetically.

The games included in this collection bear the important qualification of being nearly all Children’s Games: that is to say, they were either originally
children’s games since developed into games for adults, or they were the more serious avocations of adults, which have since become children’s
games only. In both cases the transition is due to traditional circumstances, and not to any formal arrangements. All invented games of skill are
therefore excluded from this collection, but it includes both indoor and outdoor games, and those played by both girls and boys.

The bulk of the collection has been made by myself, greatly through the kindness of many correspondents, to whom I cannot be sufficiently
grateful. In every case I have acknowledged my indebtedness, which, besides being an act of justice, is a guarantee of the genuineness of the
collection. I have appended to this preface a list of the collectors, together with the counties to which the games belong; but I must particularly
thank the Rev. W. Gregor, Mr. S. O. Addy, and Miss Fowler, who very generously placed collections at my disposal, which had been prepared
before they knew of my project; also Miss Burne, Miss L. E. Broadwood, and others, for kindly obtaining variants and tunes I should not
otherwise have received. To the many versions now printed for the first time I have added either a complete transcript of, where necessary, or a
reference to, where that was sufficient, printed versions of games to be found in the well-known collections of Halliwell and Chambers, the
publications of the Folk-lore and Dialect Societies, Jamieson’s, Nares’, and Halliwell’s Dictionaries, and other printed sources of information.
When quoting from a printed authority, I have as far as possible given the exact words, and have always given the reference. I had hoped to have
covered in my collection the whole field of games as played by children in the United Kingdom, but it will be seen that many counties in each
country are still unrepresented; and I shall be greatly indebted for any games from other places, which would help to make this collection more
complete. The tunes of the games have been taken down, as sung by the children, either by myself or correspondents (except where otherwise
stated), and are unaltered.

The games consist of two main divisions, which may be called descriptive, and singing or choral. The descriptive games are arranged so as to give
the most perfect type, and, where they occur, variable types in succession, followed, where possible, by any suggestions I have to make as to the
possible origin of the game. The singing games are arranged so as to give, first, the tunes; secondly, the different versions of the game-rhymes;
thirdly, the method of playing; fourthly, an analysis of the game-rhymes on a plan arranged by my husband, and which is an entirely novel feature
in discussing the history of games; fifthly, a discussion of the results of the analysis of the rhymes so far as the different versions allow; and sixthly,
an attempt to deduce from the evidence thus collected suggestions as to the probable origin of the game, together with such references to early
authorities and other facts bearing upon the subject as help to elucidate the views expressed. Where the method of playing the game is involved,
or where there are several changes in the forms, diagrams or illustrations, which have been drawn by Mr. J. P. Emslie, are inserted in order to
assist the reader to understand the different actions, and in one or two instances I have been able to give a facsimile reproduction of
representations of the games from early MSS. in the Bodleian and British Museum Libraries.

Although none of the versions of the games now collected together are in their original form, but are more or less fragmentary, it cannot, I think,
fail to be noticed how extremely interesting these games are, not only from the point of view of the means of amusement (and under this head
there can be no question of their interest), but as a means of obtaining an insight into many of the customs and beliefs of our ancestors. Children
do not invent, but they imitate or mimic very largely, and in many of these games we have, there is little doubt, unconscious folk-dramas of events
and customs which were at one time being enacted as a part of the serious concerns of life before the eyes of children many generations ago. As
to the many points of interest under this and other heads there is no occasion to dwell at length here, because the second volume will contain an
appendix giving a complete analysis of the incidents mentioned in the games, and an attempt to tell the story of their origin and development,
together with a comparison with the games of children of foreign countries.

The intense pleasure which the collection of these games has given me has been considerably enhanced by the many expressions of the same kind
of pleasure from correspondents who have helped me, it not being an infrequent case for me to be thanked for reviving some of the keenest
pleasures experienced by the collector since childhood; and I cannot help thinking that, if these traditional games have the power of thus imparting
pleasure after the lapse of many years, they must contain the power of giving an equal pleasure to those who may now learn them for the first
time.

ALICE BERTHA GOMME.

Barnes Common, S.W.,

Jan. 1894.

[vii]

[viii]

[ix]

[x]

LIST OF AUTHORITIES

ENGLAND.

Halliwell’s Nursery Rhymes.
Halliwell’s Dictionary, ed. 1889.
Holloway’s Dictionary, ed. 1838.
Strutt’s Sports and Pastimes, ed. 1831.
Brand’s Popular Antiquities, ed. 1875.
Nares’ Glossary, ed. 1872.
Grose’s Dictionary, 1823.
Notes and Queries.
Reliquary.
English Dialect Society Publications.
Folk-lore Society Publications, 1878-1892.
Bedfordshire—

Luton
Mrs. Ashdown.

Roxton
Miss Lumley.

Berkshire
Lowsley’s Glossary.

Enborne
Miss Kimber.

Fernham, Longcot
Miss I. Barclay.

Newbury
Mrs. S. Batson, Miss Kimber.

Sulhampstead
Miss Thoyts (Antiquary, vol. xxvii.)

Cambridgeshire—

Cambridge
Mrs. Haddon.

Cheshire
Darlington’s, Holland’s, Leigh’s, and Wilbraham’s Glossaries.

Congleton
Miss A. E. Twemlow.

Cornwall
Folk-lore Journal, v., Courtney’s Glossary.

Penzance
Miss Courtney, Mrs. Mabbott.

Cumberland
Dickinson’s Glossary.

Derbyshire
Folk-lore Journal, vol. i., Mrs. Harley, Mr. S. O. Addy.

Dronfield, Eckington, Egan
Mr. S. O. Addy.

Devonshire
Halliwell’s Dictionary.

Dorsetshire
Barnes’ Glossary, Folk-lore Journal, vol. vii.

Durham
Brockett’s North Country Words, ed. 1846.

Gainford
Miss Eddleston.

South Shields
Miss Blair.

Essex—

Bocking
Folk-lore Record, vol. iii. pt. 2.

Colchester
Miss G. M. Francis.

Gloucestershire
Holloway’s Dictionary, Midland Garner.

Shepscombe, Cheltenham
Miss Mendham.

Forest of Dean
Miss Matthews.

Hampshire
Cope’s Glossary, Miss Mendham.

Bitterne
Mrs. Byford.

Liphook
Miss Fowler.

Hampshire—

Hartley, Winchfield, Witney
Mr. H. S. May.

Southampton
Mrs. W. R. Carse.

Isle of Man
Mr. A. W. Moore.

Isle of Wight—

Cowes
Miss E. Smith.

Kent
Pegge’s Alphabet of Kenticisms.

Bexley Heath
Miss Morris.

Crockham Hill, Deptford
Miss Chase.

Platt
Miss Burne.

Wrotham
Miss D. Kimball.

Lancashire
Nodal and Milner’s Glossary, Harland and Wilkinson’s Folk-lore, ed. 1882, Mrs. Harley.

Monton
Miss Dendy.

Leicestershire
Evan’s Glossary.

Leicester
Miss Ellis.

Lincolnshire
Peacock’s, Cole’s, and Brogden’s Glossaries, Rev. —— Roberts.

Anderby, Botterford, Brigg, Frodingham,
Horncastle, North Kelsey, Stixwould, Winterton

Miss Peacock.

East Kirkby
Miss K. Maughan.

Metheringham
Mr. C. C. Bell.

Middlesex
Miss Collyer.

Hanwell
Mrs. G. L. Gomme.

London
Miss Chase, Miss F. D. Richardson, Mr. G. L. Gomme, Mrs. G. L. Gomme, Mr. J. P. Emslie, Miss Dendy, Mr.
J. T. Micklethwaite (Archæological Journal, vol. xlix.), Strand Magazine, vol. ii.

Norfolk
Forby’s Vocabulary, Spurden’s Vocabulary, Mr. J. Doe.

Sporle, Swaffham
Miss Matthews.

Northamptonshire
Baker’s Glossary, Northants Notes and Queries, Revue Celtique, vol. iv., Rev. W. D. Sweeting.

Maxey
Rev. W. D. Sweeting.

Northumberland
Brockett’s Provincial Words, ed. 1846.

Hexham
Miss J. Barker.

Nottinghamshire
Miss Peacock.

Long Eaton
Miss Youngman.

[xi]

[xii]

Nottingham
Miss Winfield, Miss Peacock.

Ordsall
Miss Matthews.

Oxfordshire
Aubrey’s Remains, ed. 1880.

Oxford
Miss Fowler.

Summertown
Midland Garner, vol. ii.

Shropshire
Burne’s Shropshire Folk-lore.

Madeley, Middleton
Miss Burne.

Tong
Miss R. Harley.

Somersetshire
Elworthy’s Dialect, Somerset and Dorset Notes and Queries, Holloway’s Dictionary.

Bath
Miss Large.

Staffordshire—

Hanbury
Miss E. Hollis.

Cheadle
Miss Burne.

Tean, North Staffordshire Potteries
Miss Keary, Miss Burne, Mrs. T. Lawton.

Wolstanton
Miss Keary.

Suffolk
Moor’s Suffolk Words, Forby’s Vocabulary, Lady C. Gurdon’s Suffolk County Folk-lore.

Surrey—

Barnes
Mrs. G. L. Gomme.

Clapham
Miss F. D. Richardson.

Hersham
Folk-lore Record, vol. v.

Redhill
Miss G. Hope.

Sussex
Parish’s Dialect, Holloway’s Dictionary, Toone’s Dictionary.

Hurstmonceux
Miss Chase.

Shipley, Horsham, West Grinstead
Miss R. H. Busk (Notes and Queries).

Ninfield
Mr. C. Wise.

Warwickshire
Northall’s Folk Rhymes, Notes and Queries, Northants Notes and Queries, Mr. C. C. Bell.

Wiltshire—

Marlborough, Manton, Ogbourne
Mr. H. S. May.

Worcestershire
Chamberlain’s Glossary.

Upton-on-Severn
Lawson’s Glossary.

Yorkshire
Atkinson’s, Addy’s, Easther’s, Hunter’s, Robinson’s, Ross and Stead’s Glossaries, Henderson’s Folk-
lore, ed. 1879.

Almondbury
Easther’s Glossary.

Epworth, Lossiemouth
Mr. C. C. Bell.

Earls Heaton, Haydon, Holmfirth
Mr. H. Hardy.

Settle
Rev. W. S. Sykes.

Sharleston
Miss Fowler, Rev. G. T. Royds.

Sheffield
Mr. S. O. Addy, Miss Lucy Garnett.

Wakefield
Miss Fowler.

SCOTLAND.

Chambers’ Popular Rhymes, ed. 1870.
Mactaggart’s Gallovidian Encyclopædia, ed. 1871.
Jamieson’s Etymological Dictionary, ed. 1872-1889.
Folk-lore Society Publications.
Aberdeen—

Pitsligo
Rev. W. Gregor.

Banffshire—

Duthil, Keith, Strathspey
Rev. W. Gregor.

Elgin—

Fochabers
Rev. W. Gregor.

Kirkcudbright—

Auchencairn
Prof. A. C. Haddon.

Lanarkshire—

Biggar
Mr. Wm. Ballantyne.

Lanark
Mr. W. G. Black.

Nairn—

Nairn
Rev. W. Gregor.

IRELAND.

Folk-lore Society Publications.
Notes and Queries.
Antrim and Down
Patterson’s Glossary.

Clare—

Kilkee
G. H. Kinahan (Folk-lore Journal, vol. ii.)

Cork—

Cork
Mrs. B. B. Green, Miss Keane.

Down—

Ballynascaw
Miss C. N. Patterson.

Belfast
Mr. W. H. Patterson.

Holywood
Miss C. N. Patterson.

Dublin—

Dublin
Mrs. Lincoln.

Louth—

Annaverna, Ravendale
Miss R. Stephen.

Queen’s County—

Portarlington
G. H. Kinahan (Folk-lore Journal, vol. ii.)

Waterford—

Lismore
Miss Keane.

[xiii]

[xiv]

WALES.

Byegones.
Folk-lore Society Publications.
Carmarthenshire—

Beddgelert
Mrs. Williams.

LIST OF GAMES

Accroshay.
All-hid.
All a Row.
All in the Well.
All the Birds in the Air.
All the Boys in our Town.
All the Fishes in the Sea.
All the Soldiers in the Town.
Allicomgreenzie.
Alligoshee.
Almonds and Reasons.
Angel and Devil.
Auntieloomie.

Babbity Bowster.
Bad.
Baddin.
Badger the Bear.
Bag o’ Malt.
Ball.
Ball and Bonnets.
Ball in the Decker.
Ball of Primrose.
Baloon.
Bandy-ball.
Bandy-cad.
Bandy-hoshoe.
Bandy-wicket.
Banger.
Bar.
Barbarie, King of the.
Barley-break.
Barnes (Mr.).
Base-ball.
Basket.
Battledore and Shuttlecock.
Bedlams or Relievo.
Beds.
Bell-horses.
Bellie-mantie.
Belly-blind.
Bend-leather.
Betsy Bungay.
Bicky.
Biddy-base.
Biggly.
Billet.
Billy-base.
Bingo.
Bird-apprentice.
Birds, Beasts, and Fishes.
Bittle-battle.
Bitty-base.
Black Man’s Tig.
Black Thorn.
Blind Bell.
Blind Bucky Davy.
Blind Harie.
Blind Hob.
Blind Man’s Buff.
Blind Man’s Stan.
Blind Nerry Mopsy.
Blind Palmie.
Blind Sim.
Block, Hammer, and Nail.
Blow-point.
Bob Cherry.
Boggle about the Stacks.
Boggle-bush.
Bonnety.
Booman.
Boss-out.
Boss and Span.
Boys and Girls.
Branks.

[xv]

Bridgeboard.
Broken-down Tradesmen.
Brother Ebenezer.
Bubble-hole.
Bubble-justice.
Buck, Buck.
Buck i’ t’ Neucks.
Buckerels.
Buckey-how.
Buff.
Buk-hid.
Bull in the Park.
Bulliheisle.
Bummers.
Bun-hole.
Bunch of Ivy.
Bung the Bucket.
Bunting.
Burly Whush.
Buttons.
Buzz and Bandy.

Cache-pole.
Caiche.
Call-the-Guse.
Camp.
Canlie.
Capie-Hole.
Carrick.
Carry my Lady to London.
Carrying the Queen a Letter.
Cashhornie.
Castles.
Cat and Dog.
Cat-Beds.
Cat’s Cradle.
Cat-gallows.
Cat i’ the Hole.
Cat after Mouse.
Catchers.
Chacke-Blyndman.
Chance Bone.
Change Seats.
Checkstone.
Cherry Odds.
Cherry-pit.
Chicamy.
Chickidy Hand.
Chinnup.
Chinny-mumps.
Chock or Chock-hole.
Chow.
Chuck-farthing.
Chuck-hole.
Chucks.
Church and Mice.
Click.
Click, Clock, Cluck.
Clowt-clowt.
Clubby.
Coal under Candlestick.
Cob.
Cobbin-match.
Cobble.
Cobbler’s Hornpipe.
Cob-nut.
Cock.
Cock-battler.
Cock-fight.
Cock-haw.
Cock-stride.
Cockertie-hooie.
Cockle-bread.
Cockly-jock.
Cock’s-headling.
Cock-steddling.
Codlings.
Cogger.
Cogs.

[xvi]

Common.
Conkers.
Conquerors or Conkers.
Contrary, Rules of.
Cop-halfpenny.
Corsicrown.
Cots and Twisses.
Course o’ Park.
Crab-sowl.
Crates.
Cricket.
Crooky.
Cross and Pile.
Cross-bars.
Cross-questions.
Cross Tig.
Cry Notchil.
Cuck-ball.
Cuckoo.
Cuddy and the Powks.
Cudgel.
Curcuddie.
Curly Locks.
Currants and Raisins.
Cushion Dance.
Cutch a Cutchoo.
Cutters and Trucklers.

Dab.
Dab-an-thricker.
Dab-at-the-hole.
Dalies.
Davie-drap.
Deadily.
Diamond Ring.
Dibbs.
Dinah.
Dip o’ the Kit.
Dish-a-loof.
Doddart.
Doncaster Cherries.
Dools.
Down in the Valley.
Drab and Norr.
Draw a Pail of Water.
Drawing Dun out of the Mire.
Drop Handkerchief.
Dropping the Letter.
Duck under the Water.
Duck at the Table.
Duck Dance.
Duck Friar.
Ducks and Drakes.
Duckstone.
Duffan Ring.
Dumb Crambo.
Dumb Motions.
Dump.
Dumps.
Dust-point.

Eller Tree.
Ezzeka.

Father’s Fiddle.
Feed the Dove.
Find the Ring.
Fippeny Morrell.
Fire, Air, and Water.
Fivestones.
Flowers.
Follow my Gable.
Follow my Leader.
Fool, Fool, come to School.
Foot and Over.
Football.
Forfeits.
Fox.
Fox and Goose (1).
Fox and Geese (2).

[xvii]

Fox in the Fold.
Fox in the Hole.
French Jackie.
French and English.
French Blindman’s Buff.
Friar-rush.
Frincy-francy.
Frog-lope.
Frog in the Middle.

Gap.
Garden Gate.
Gegg.
Genteel Lady.
Ghost at the Well.
Giants.
Giddy.
Gilty-galty.
Gipsy.
Gled-wylie.
Glim-glam.
Gobs.
Green Grass.
Green Gravel.
Green Grow the Leaves (1).
Green Grow the Leaves (2).
Gully.

Hairry my Bossie.
Half-Hammer.
Han’-and-Hail.
Hand in and Hand out.
Handy-Croopen.
Handy Dandy.
Hap the Beds.
Hard Buttons.
Hare and Hounds.
Harie Hutcheon.
Hark the Robbers.
Hats in Holes.
Hattie.
Hawkey.
Headicks and Pinticks.
Heads and Tails.
Hecklebirnie.
Hen and Chicken.
Here comes a Lusty Wooer.
Here comes One Virgin.
Here I sit on a Cold Green Bank.
Here stands a Young Man.
Here we go around, around.
Here’s a Soldier.
Hewley Puley.
Hey Wullie Wine.
Hickety, Bickety.
Hickety-hackety.
Hick, Step, and Jump.
Hide and Seek (1).
Hide and Seek (2).
Hinch-Pinch.
Hinmost o’ Three.
Hirtschin Hairy.
Hiry-hag.
Hiss and Clap.
Hitch, Jamie, Stride and Loup.
Hitchapagy.
Hitchy Cock Ho.
Hity Tity.
Hoatie, Hots.
Hob-in-the-Hall.
Hockerty Cokerty.
Hockey.
Hoges.
Ho-go.
Hoilakes.
Holy Bang.
Honey Pots.
Hood.
Hoodle-cum-blind.
Hoodman Blind.

[xviii]

Hooper’s Hide.
Hop-crease.
Hop-frog.
Hop-score.
Hop-scotch.
Hop, Step, and Jump.
Hornie.
Hornie Holes.
Horns.
Hot Cockles.
How many Miles to Babylon.
Howly.
Huckie-buckie down the Brae.
Huckle-bones.
Hummie.
Hundreds.
Hunt the Hare.
Hunt the Slipper.
Hunt the Staigie.
Hunting.
Hurling.
Hurly-burly.
Huss.
Hustle Cap.
Hynny-pynny.

Isabella.

Jack’s Alive.
Jack, Jack, the Bread’s a-burning.
Jack upon the Mopstick.
Jackysteauns.
Jauping Paste-eggs.
Jenny Jones.
Jenny Mac.
Jib-Job-Jeremiah.
Jiddy-cum-jiddy.
Jingle-the-bonnet.
Jingo-ring.
Jinkie.
Jock and Jock’s Man.
Jockie Blind-man.
Joggle along.
Johnny Rover.
Jolly Fishermen.
Jolly Hooper.
Jolly Miller.
Jolly Rover.
Jolly Sailors.
Jowls.
Jud.

Keeling the Pot.
Keppy Ball.
Kibel and Nerspel.
King by your leave.
King Cæsar.
King Come-a-lay.
King of Cantland.
King o’ the Castle.
King Plaster Palacey.
King William.
King’s Chair.
Kirk the Gussie.
Kiss in the Ring.
Kit-cat.
Kit-cat-cannio.
Kittlie-cout.
Knapsack.
Knights.
Knocked at the Rapper.
Knor and Spell.

Lab.
Lady of the Land.
Lady on the Mountain.
Lady on Yonder Hill.
Lag.
Lammas.
Lamploo.

[xix]