Part 1
Produced by David Edwards, Harry Lamé, the Music Team (Anne Celnik, monkeyclogs, Sarah Thomson and others) and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES: | | | | Text printed in italics in the original work is presented here | | between underscores, as in _text_. Similarly, bold face in the | | original is represented as =text=. | | | | Footnotes have been moved to the end of the description of the | | game. | | | | [Illustration] means that there is an illustration present in the | | text; [Music] means a transcription in musical notation. | | | | [Greek: text] represents a transcription of Greek text. [zeta] | | and [yogh] represent the named characters. The oe-ligature has | | been transcribed as [oe]. | | | | More Transcriber's Notes may be found at the end of this text. | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+
VOL. I.
ACCROSHAY-NUTS IN MAY
Medium 8vo, xix.--424 pp. With numerous Diagrams and Illustrations. Cloth uncut. 12s. 6d. nett.
Some Press Notices
_Notes and Queries._--"A work of supreme importance. . . a scholarly, valuable, and delightful work."
_Spectator._--"Interesting and useful to the antiquarian, historian, and philologist, as well as to the student of manners and customs."
_Saturday Review._--"Thorough and conscientious."
_Critic_ (New York).--"A mine of riches to the student of folk-lore, anthropology, and comparative religion."
_Antiquary._--"The work of collection and comparison has been done with obvious care, and at the same time with a con amore enthusiasm."
_Zeitschrift für vergl. Literaturgeschichte._--"In jeder Beziehung erschöpfend und mustergültig."
_Zeitschrift für Pädagogie._--"Von hoher wissenschaftlicher Bedeutung."
[_All rights reserved_]
THE TRADITIONAL GAMES 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. II.
OATS AND BEANS-WOULD YOU KNOW
TOGETHER WITH A MEMOIR ON THE STUDY OF CHILDREN'S GAMES
LONDON DAVID NUTT, 270-71 STRAND 1898
Printed by BALLANTYNE, HANSON & CO.
At the Ballantyne Press
PREFACE
The completion of the second volume of my Dictionary has been delayed from several unforeseen circumstances, the most important being the death of my most kind and learned friend the Rev. Dr. Gregor. The loss which folk-lore students as a body sustained by this lamented scholar's death, was in my own case accentuated, not only by many years of kindly communication, but by the very special help which he generously gave me for this collection.
The second volume completes the collection of games on the lines already laid down. It has taken much more space than I originally intended, and I was compelled to add some important variants to the first volume, sent to me during the compilation of the second. I have explained in the memoir that the two volumes practically contain all that is to be collected, all, that is to say, of real importance.
The memoir seeks to show what important evidence is to be derived from separate study of the Traditional Games of England. That games of all classes are shown to contain evidence of ancient custom and belief is remarkable testimony to the anthropological methods of studying folk-lore, which I have followed. The memoir fills a considerable space, although it contains only the analytical portion of what was to have been a comprehensive study of both the analytical and comparative sides of the questions. Dr. Gregor had kindly promised to help me with the study of foreign parallels to British Games, but before his death it became apparent that this branch of the subject would almost need a separate treatise, and his death decided me to leave it untouched. I do not underrate its importance, but I am disposed to think that the survey I have given of the British evidence will not be materially shaken by the study of the comparative evidence, which will now be made the easier.
I ought perhaps to add, that the "Memoir" at the end of this volume was read as a paper at the evening meeting of the Folk Lore Society, on March 16th, 1898.
I have again to thank my many kind correspondents for their help in collecting the different versions of the games.
A. B. G.
24 DORSET SQUARE, N.W.
LIST OF AUTHORITIES
ADDENDUM TO VOL. I.
ENGLAND.
BEDFORDSHIRE-- Bedford Mrs. Haddon.
BERKSHIRE-- Welford Mrs. S. Batson.
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE-- Buckingham _Midland Garner._
CAMBRIDGESHIRE Halliwell's _Nursery Rhymes_. Barrington, Girton Dr. A. C. Haddon. Cambridge Mrs. Haddon.
CORNWALL Miss I. Barclay.
DERBYSHIRE Miss Youngman, _Long Ago_, vol. i.
DEVONSHIRE Miss Chase. Chudleigh Knighton { Henderson's _Folk-lore of the Northern { Counties of England_.
DORSETSHIRE-- Broadwinsor _Folk-lore Journal_, vol. vii.
GLOUCESTERSHIRE Northall's _English Folk Rhymes_.
HAMPSHIRE-- Gambledown Mrs. Pinsent.
HERTFORDSHIRE-- Harpenden, Stevenage Mrs. Lloyd.
HUNTINGDONSHIRE-- St. Neots Miss Lumley.
KENT Miss L. Broadwood.
LANCASHIRE-- Manchester Miss Dendy. Liverpool Mrs. Harley.
LEICESTERSHIRE _Leicestershire County Folk-lore._
LINCOLNSHIRE-- Brigg Miss J. Barker. Spilsby Rev. R. Cracroft.
LONDON Dr. Haddon, A. Nutt, Mrs. Gomme. Blackheath Mr. M. L. Rouse. Hoxton Rev. S. D. Headlam. Marylebone Mrs. Gomme.
MIDDLESEX Mrs. Pocklington-Coltman.
NORFOLK Mrs. Haddon. Hemsby Mrs. Haddon.
NORTHUMBERLAND Hon. J. Abercromby.
OXFORDSHIRE Miss L. Broadwood.
STAFFORDSHIRE Halliwell's _Nursery Rhymes_. Wolstanton Miss Bush.
SUFFOLK Mrs. Haddon. Woolpit, near Haughley Mr. M. L. Rouse.
SURREY-- Ash Mrs. Gomme.
SUSSEX-- Lewes Miss Kimber.
WORCESTERSHIRE-- Upton on Severn Miss. L. Broadwood.
YORKSHIRE Miss E. Cadman.
SCOTLAND.
_Notes and Queries._ Pennant's _Voyage to the Hebrides_.
ABERDEENSHIRE-- Aberdeen Mr. M. L. Rouse. Aberdeen Training College Rev. Dr. Gregor. Corgarff, Fraserburgh, } Rev. Dr. Gregor. Meiklefolla, Rosehearty, } Tyrie
ARGYLLSHIRE-- Connell Ferry, near Oban Miss Harrison.
BANFFSHIRE-- Cullen, Macduff Rev. Dr. Gregor.
BERWICKSHIRE A. M. Bell (_Antiquary_, vol. xxx.).
ELGIN AND NAIRN-- Dyke } Rev. Dr. Gregor. Strichen }
FORFARSHIRE-- Forfar Rev. Dr. Gregor.
KINCARDINESHIRE-- Banchory Rev. Dr. Gregor.
KIRCUDBRIGHTSHIRE-- Auchencairn { Miss M. Haddon. { Dr. A. C. Haddon. Crossmichael Rev. Dr. Gregor. Galloway } Mr. J. G. Carter. Dalry } Kirkcudbright }Mr. J. Lawson. Laurieston } New Galloway Rev. Dr. Gregor.
LINLITHGOWSHIRE-- Linlithgow Mrs. Jamieson.
PERTHSHIRE-- Auchterarder Miss E. S. Haldane. Perth Rev. Dr. Gregor.
ROSS-SHIRE Rev. Dr. Gregor.
WIGTONSHIRE-- Port William School Rev. Dr. Gregor.
IRELAND.
Carleton's _Stories of Irish Peasantry_.
CORK-- Cork Mr. I. J. Dennachy.
DOWN-- St. Andrews Miss H. E. Harvey.
DUBLIN-- Dublin Mrs. Coffey. Howth Miss H. E. Harvey.
KERRY-- Kerry I. J. Dennachy. Waterville Mrs. B. B. Green.
LEITRIM-- Kiltubbrid Mr. L. L. Duncan.
WATERFORD-- Waterford Miss H. E. Harvey.
WALES.
Roberts' _Cambrian Popular Antiquities_.
LIST OF GAMES
OATS and Beans and Barley. Obadiah. Odd or Even. Odd-man. Old Dame. Old Roger is Dead. Old Soldier. Oliver, Oliver, follow the King. One Catch-all. Oranges and Lemons. 'Otmillo. Over Clover.
PADDY from Home. Paip. Pallall. Pally Ully. Pat-ball. Pay-swad. Pednameny. Peesie Weet. Peg and Stick. Peg-fiched. Peggy Nut. Peg-in-the-Ring. Peg-top. Penny Cast. Penny Hop. Penny Prick. Penny Stanes. Ph[oe]be. Pick and Hotch. Pi-cow. Pigeon Walk. Pig-ring. Pillie-Winkie. Pinch. Pinny Show. Pins. Pirley Pease-weep. Pitch. Pitch and Hustle. Pitch and Toss. Pit-counter. Pits. Pize Ball. Plum Pudding. Plum Pudding and Roast Beef. Pointing out a Point. Poncake. Poor and Rich. Poor Mary sits a-weeping. Poor Widow. Pop Goes the Weasel. Pop-the-Bonnet. Poppet-Show. Port the Helm. Pots, or Potts. Pray, Pretty Miss. Pretty Little Girl of Mine. Pretty Miss Pink. Prick at the Loop. Prickey Sockey. Prickie and Jockie. Priest-Cat (1). Priest-Cat (2). Priest of the Parish. Prisoner's Base. Puff-the-Dart. Pun o' mair Weight. Punch Bowl. Purposes. Push in the Wash Tub. Push Pin. Push the Business On. Puss in the Corner. Pussy's Ground. Pyramid.
QUAKER. Quaker's Wedding. Queen Anne. Queen Mary. Queen of Sheba.
RAGMAN. Rag-stag. Rakes and Roans. Rakkeps. Range the Bus. Rax, or Raxie-boxie, King of Scotland. Relievo. Religious Church. Rigs. Ring. Ring a Ring o' Roses. Ring by Ring. Ringie, Ringie, Red Belt. Ring-me-rary. Ring-taw. Rin-im-o'er. Robbing the Parson's Hen-Roost. Rockety Row. Roll up Tobacco. Roly-poly. Ronin the Bee. Rosy Apple, Lemon and Pear. Roundabout, or Cheshire Round. Round and Round the Village. Round and Round went the Gallant Ship. Round Tag. Rounders. Rounds. Row-chow-Tobacco. Rowland-Ho. Rumps. Rusty.
SACKS. Saddle the Nag. Saggy. Sailor Lad. Sally go Round the Moon. Sally Water. Sally Sober. Salmon Fishers. Salt Eel. Save All. Say Girl. Scat. Scop-peril. Scotch-hoppers. Scots and English. Scratch Cradle. Scrush. Scurran-Meggy. See-Saw. See-Sim. Shame Reel, or Shamit Dance. She Said, and She Said. Shepherd and Sheep. Shepherds. Shinney, or Shinty, or Shinnops. Ship. Ship Sail. Shiver the Goose. Shoeing the Auld Mare. Shue-Gled-Wylie. Shuttlefeather. Shuvvy-Hawle. Silly Old Man. Skin the Goatie. Skipping. Skyte the Bob. Smuggle the Gig. Snail Creep. Snapping Tongs. Snatch Apple. Snatch Hood. Soldier. Solomon. Sort'em-billyort'em. Sow-in-the-Kirk. Span Counter. Spang and Purley. Spangie. Spannims. Spawnie. Spinny-Wye. Splints. Spurn point. Spy-arm. Stacks. Stag. Stagging. Steal the Pigs. Stealy Clothes. Steik and Hide. Sticky-stack. Sticky Toffey. Stiff Police. Stik-n Snael. Stocks. Stones. Stool-ball. Strik a Licht. Stroke. Stroke Bias. Sun and Moon. Sunday Night. Sun Shines. Sweer Tree. Swinging.
TAIT. Teesty-Tosty. Teter-cum-Tawter. Tee-to-tum. Thimble Ring. Thing done. Thread the Needle. Three Days' Holidays. Three Dukes. Three Flowers. Three Holes. Three Jolly Welshmen. Three Knights from Spain. Three Little Ships. Three Old Bachelors. Three Sailors. Through the Needle Eye, Boys. Thun'er Spell. Tick. Tickle me Quickly. Ticky Touchwood. Tig. Time. Tip it. Tip-Cat. Tip-tap-toe. Tiring Irons. Tisty Tosty. Titter-totter. Tit-tat-toe. Tods and Lambs. Tom Tiddler's Ground. Tops. The Totum, or Tee-to-tum. Touch. Tower of London. Town Lovers. Trades. Trap, Bat, and Ball. Tray-trip. Tres-acre. Tribet. Trippit and Coit. Trip and Go. Trip-trout. Troap. Troco, Trucks. Troule-in-Madame. Trounce-Hole. Troy Town. Truncher. Trunket. Truss. Tuilyie-wap. Turn, Cheeses, Turn. Turn Spit Jack. Turn the Ship. Turn the Trencher, or, My Lady's Toilet. Turvey. Tutt-ball. Twelve Days of Christmas. Twelve Holes.
UNCLE John is Ill in Bed. Up the Streets.
WADDS and the Wears (1). Wadds and the Wears (2). Waggles. Wallflowers. Warney. Way-Zaltin. We are the Rovers. Weary. Weave the Diaper. Weigh the Butter. When I was a Young Girl. Whiddy. Whigmeleerie. Whip. Whishin Dance. Who goes round my Stone Wall. Widow. Wiggle-Waggle. Wild Boar. Wild Birds. Willie, Willie Wastell. Wind up the Bush Faggot. Wind, The. Wink-egg. Witch, The. Witte-Witte-Way. Wolf. Wolf and the Lamb. Would you know how doth the Peasant.
ADDENDA
A' THE BIRDIES. All the Boys. American Post. As I was Walking. Auld Grannie.
BALL. Bannockburn. Black Doggie. Bonnet Ridgie. Button.
CANLIE. Carry my Lady to London. Cat and Dog Hole. Catch the Salmond. Chicken come Clock. Chippings, or Cheapings. Chucks. Churning. Codham, or Codhams. Colley Ball.
DAN'L my Man. Deil amo' the Dishes. Dig for Silver. Dillsee Dollsie Dee. Doagan. Down in Yonder Meadow. Draw a Pail of Water. Drop Handkerchief. Dumb Crambo. Dump.
EENDY, Beendy.
FARMER'S Den. Fire on the Mountains. Fool, Fool, come to School. French Jackie.
GALLOPING, Galloping. Gallant Ship. Galley, Galley Ship. Glasgow Ships. Granny's Needle. Green Gravel. Green Grass. Green Grass (2).
HEAP the Cairn. Hear all! Hen and Chickens. High Windows. Hot Cockles.
ISABELLA.
JENNY Jones. Jockie Rover. Jolly Lads. Jolly Miller.
KEYS of Heaven. Kick the Block.
LADY of the Land. Leap-Frog. London Bridge. Lubin, Looby Loo.
MAGICIAN. Mannie on the Pavement. Merry-ma-Tanza. Milking Pails. My Delight's in Tansies.
NAMER and Guesser. Needle Cases. Nuts in May.
ODD Man. Old Cranny Crow. Old Johanny Hairy, Crap in!
PAPER of Pins. Pickie. Poor Widow.
QUEEN Anne.
RASHES.
SALLY Water. Shuffle the Brogue. Soldiers, Soldiers.
THREE Dukes. Three Knights. Tug of War.
WE are the Rovers. When I was a Young Girl.
ANALYSIS OF "MEMOIR"
Children's games, a definite branch of folk-lore--Nature of material for the study--Games fall into one of two sections--Classification of the games--Under customs contained in them--Under implements of play--Skill and chance games--Importance of classification--Early custom contained in skill and chance games--In diagram games--Tabu in game of "Touch"--Methods of playing the games--Characteristics of line form--Of circle forms--Of individual form--Of the arch forms--Of winding-up form--Contest games--War-cry used in contest games--Early marriage customs in games of line form--Marriage by capture--By purchase--Without love or courtship--Games formerly played at weddings--Disguising the bride--Hiring servants game--Marriage customs in circle games--Courtship precedes marriage--Marriage connected with water custom--"Crying for a young man" announcing a want--Marriage formula--Approval of friends necessary--Housewifely duties mentioned--Eating of food by bride and bridegroom necessary--Young man's necessity for a wife--Kiss in the ring--Harvest customs in games--Occupations in games--Funeral customs in games--Use of rushes in games--Sneezing action in game--Connection of spirit of dead person with trees--Perambulation of boundaries--Animals represented--Ballads sung to a dance--Individual form games--Hearth worship--Objection to giving light from a fire--Child-stealing by witch--Obstacles in path when pursuing witch--Contest between animals--Ghosts in games--Arch form of game--Contest between leaders of parties--Foundation sacrifice in games--Encircling a church--Well worship in games--Tug-of-war games--Alarm bell ringing--Passing under a yoke--Creeping through holed stones in games--Under earth sods--Customs in "winding up" games--Tree worship in games--Awaking the earth spirit--Serpentine dances--Burial of maiden--Guessing, a primitive element in games--Dramatic classification--Controlling force which has preserved custom in games--Dramatic faculty in mankind--Child's faculty for dramatic action--Observation of detail--Children's games formerly an amusement of adults--Dramatic power in savages--Dramatic dances among the savage and semi-civilised--Summary and conclusion.
CHILDREN'S GAMES
Oats and Beans and Barley
[Music]
--Madeley, Shropshire (Miss Burne).
[Music]
--_Northants Notes and Queries_, ii. 161 (R. S. Baker)
[Music]
--Sporle, Norfolk (Miss Matthews).
I. Oats and beans and barley grow! Oats and beans and barley grow! Do you or I or any one know How oats and beans and barley grow? First the farmer _sows_ his seed, Then he _stands_ and takes his ease, _Stamps_ his foot, and _claps_ his hands, Then _turns round_ to view the land. Waiting for a partner, waiting for a partner! Open the ring and take one in!
Now you are married you must obey, You must be true to all you say, You must be kind, you must be good, And help your wife to chop the wood!
--Much Wenlock (Burne's _Shropshire Folklore_, p. 508).
II. Oats and beans and barley grow! Does you or I or any one know Where oats and beans and barley grow?
So the farmer sows his seed; So he stands and takes his ease; Stamps his foot and claps his hands, And turns him round to view the lands. Waiting for a partner! waiting for a partner!
Now young couple you must obey, You must be true in all you say, You must be wise and very good, And help your wife to chop the wood.
--Monton, Lancashire (Miss Dendy).
III. Does you or I, or anie one knowe Where oates and beanes and barlie growe? Where oates and beanes and barlie growe? The farmer comes and sowes ye seede, Then he standes and takes hys ease, Stamps hys foote, and slappes hys hand, And turnes hym rounde to viewe ye land. Waiting for a partner, Waiting for a partner, Open the ringe and take mee in, Make haste and choose youre partner.
Now you're married you must obey, Must bee true to alle you saye, Must bee kinde and verie goode, And helpe your wyfe to choppe ye woode.
--Raunds (_Northants Notes and Queries_, i. 163).
IV. Oats and beans and barley grows, You or I or any one knows, You or I or any one knows, Where oats and beans and barley grows.
Thus the farmer sows his seed, Stamps his feet and claps his hands, And turns around to view the land. Waiting for a partner, Waiting for a partner,
Now you are married, &c. [same as Much Wenlock.]
--East Kirkby, Lincolnshire (Miss K. Maughan).
V. Oats, beans, and barley grows, You or I or any one knows. Thus the farmer sows his seed, Thus he stands and takes his ease, Stamps his feet and folds his hands, And turns him round to view the lands. Oh! waitin' for a partner, Waitin' for a partner.
Now you're married, &c. [same as Much Wenlock.]
--Winterton (Miss Fowler).
VI. Oats and wheat and barley grows, You and I and every one knows Where oats and wheat and barley grows. As the farmer sows his seed, Folds his arms and takes his ease, Stamps his feet and claps his hands, And turns him round to view the land. Waiting for a partner, Waiting for a partner, Waiting for a partner, To open the ring And take one in.
Now you're married, &c. [same as Much Wenlock.]
--Tean, North Staffs. (Miss Keary).
VII. Oats and beans and barley grow, You and I and every one know; You and I and every one know That oats and beans and barley grow.
Thus the farmer sows his seed, Thus he stands and takes his ease, Stamps his foot and claps his hands, And turns him round to view the land. Waiting for a partner, Waiting for a partner.
Now you're married you must obey, &c. [same as Much Wenlock.]
--Brigg, Lincolnshire (Miss Barker).
VIII. Oats and beans and barley-corns, you or I or any one else, You or I or any one else, oats or beans or barley-corns; Thus the farmer sows his seed, Thus he stands and takes his ease, Stamps his foot, and claps his hands, And turns him round to view the land. Waiting for a partner, waiting for a partner; Open the ring and take one in, Waiting for a partner. Now you're married, &c. [same as Much Wenlock.]
--Nottingham (Miss E. A. Winfield).
IX. Oats and beans, barley and groats, Oats and beans, barley and groats; You, nor I, nor anybody knows How oats and beans and barley grows. Thus the farmer sows his seed, Thus he stands and takes his feed, Stamps his foot and claps his hand, And turns around to view the land. Waiting for a partner, waiting for a partner. Slip the ring, and take one in, And kiss her when you get her in; Now that you're married you must agree, You must be kind to all you see; You must be kind, you must be good, And help your man [wife] to chop the wood.
--Isle of Man (A. W. Moore).
X. Wuts and beäns and barley graws, As you and I and every one knaws.
. . . . .
Waätin' for a pardner.
Fust the farmer saws his seäds, Then he stands and taäke his eäse, Stomps his feät and clops his hands, And turns him round to view his lands. Waätin' for a pardner.