Part 23

An interesting article by Dr. Karl Blind (_Antiquary_, ix. 63-72), on the Hawick riding song, "Teribus ye Teri Odin," points out that this slogan, which occurs in the "Hawick Common-Riding Song," a song used at the annual Riding of the Marches of the Common, is an ancient Germanic war-cry. Dr. Blind, quoting from a pamphlet, _Flodden Field and New Version of the Common Riding Song_, says, "It is most likely that the inspiring strains of 'Terribus' would be the marching tune of our ancestors when on their way for Flodden Field and other border battles, feuds, and frays. The words of the common-riding song have been changed at various periods, according to the taste and capacity of poets and minstrels, but the refrain has remained little altered. . . . The origin of the ancient and, at one time, imperative ceremony of the common-riding is lost in antiquity, and this old, no longer understood, exclamation, 'Teribus ye Teri Odin,' has (says Dr. Blind) all through ages in the meanwhile clung to that ceremony."

If we can fairly claim that the words of this game have preserved an old slogan or tribal cry, an additional piece of evidence is supplied to the suggestion that the game is a reflection of the tribal marriage--a reflection preserved by children of to-day by means of oral tradition from the children of a thousand years ago or more, who played at games in imitation of the serious and ordinary actions of their elders.

Three Flowers

My mistress sent me unto thine, Wi' three young flowers baith fair and fine-- The Pink, the Rose, and the Gilliflower: And as they here do stand, Whilk will ye sink, whilk will ye swim, And whilk bring hame to land?

A group of lads and lasses being assembled round the fire, two leave the party and consult apart as to the names of three others, young men or girls, whom they designate Red Rose, the Pink, and the Gilliflower. If lads are first pitched upon, the two return to the fireside circle, and having selected a lass, they say the above verse to her. The maiden must choose one of the flowers named, on which she passes some approving epithet, adding, at the same time, a disapproving rejection of the other two; for instance, I will sink the Pink, swim the Rose, and bring home the Gilliflower to land. The two young men then disclose the names of the parties upon whom they had fixed those appellations respectively, when of course it may chance that she has slighted the person she is understood to be most attached to, or chosen him whom she is believed to regard with aversion; either of which events is sure to throw the company into a state of outrageous merriment.--Chambers' _Popular Rhymes_, p. 127. Mr. W. Ballantyne has given me a description of this game as played at Biggar when he was a boy, which is practically the same as this.

Three Holes

_T_ B _a_ o A o o _w_ 1 2 3

Three holes were made in the ground by the players driving the heels of their boots into the earth, and then pirouetting. The game was played with the large marbles (about the size of racket balls) known as "bouncers," sometimes as "bucks." The first boy stood at "taw," and bowled his marble along the ground into 1. (It was bad form to make the holes too large; they were then "wash-hand basins," and made the game too easy.) Taking the marble in his hand, and placing his foot against 1, he bowled the marble into 2. He was now "going up for his firsts." Starting at 2, he bowled the marble into 3, and had now "taken off his firsts," and was "coming down for his seconds." He then bowled the marble back again into 2, and afterwards into 1. He then "went up for his thirds," bowling the marble into 2, and afterwards into 3, and had then won the game. When he won in this fashion, he was said to have "taken off the game." But he didn't often do this. In going up for his firsts, perhaps his marble, instead of going into 2, stopped at A; then the second boy started from taw, and, having sent his marble into 1, bowled at A; if he hit the marble, he started for 2, from where his marble stopped; if he missed, or didn't gain the hole he was making for, or knocked his antagonist's marble into a hole, the first boy played again, hitting the other marble, if it brought him nearer to the hole he was making for, or else going on. In such a case as I have supposed, it would be the player's aim to knock A on to B, or some place between 2 and 3, so as to enter 2, and then strike again so as to near 3, enter 3, and strike on his way down for his seconds, and near 2 again. These were the chances of the game; but if the boy who started went through the game without his antagonist having a chance, he was said "to take off the game."--London (J. P. Emslie).

Three Jolly Welshmen

One child is supposed to be taking care of others, who take hold of her or of each other. Three children personate the Welshmen. These try to rob the mother or caretaker of her children. They each try to capture as many as they can, and I think the one who gets most is to be mother next time.--Beddgelert (Mrs. Williams).

See "Gipsy," "Mother, Mother," "Shepherd and Sheep," "Witch."

Three Knights from Spain

I. Here come two dukes all out of Spain, A courting to your daughter Jane.

My daughter Jane, she is so young, She can't abide your flattering tongue.

Let her be young, or let her be old, It is the price, she must be sold, Either for silver or for gold. So fare you well, my lady gay, For I must turn another way.

Turn back, turn back, you Spanish knight, And rub your spurs till they be bright.

My spurs they are of a costliest wrought, And in this town they were not bought, Nor in this town they won't be sold, Neither for silver, nor for gold. So fare you well, my lady gay, For I must turn another way.

Through the kitchen, and through the hall, And take the fairest of them all; The fairest is, as I can see, Pretty Jane--come here to me.

Now I've got my pretty fair maid, Now I've got my pretty fair maid, To dance along with me, To dance along with me!

--Eccleshall, Halliwell's _Nursery Rhymes_, p. 222.

II. Here comes three lords dressed all in green, For the sake of your daughter Jane.

My daughter Jane, she is so young, She learns to talk with a flattering tongue.

Let her be young, or let her be old, For her beauty she must be sold.

My mead's not made, my cake's not baked, And you cannot have my daughter Jane.

--Cambridgeshire, Halliwell's _Nursery Rhymes_, p. 222.

III. We are three brethren out of Spain, Come to court your daughter Jane.

My daughter Jane, she is too young, And has not learned her mother tongue.

Be she young, or be she old, For her beauty she must be sold. So fare you well, my lady gay, We'll call again another day.

Turn back, turn back, thou scornful knight, And rub thy spurs till they be bright.

Of my spurs take you no thought, For in this town they were not bought. So fare you well, my lady gay, We'll call again another day.

Turn back, turn back, thou scornful knight, And take the fairest in your sight. The fairest maid that I can see, Is pretty Nancy--come to me.

Here comes your daughter, safe and sound, Every pocket with a thousand pound, Every finger with a gay gold ring, Please to take your daughter in.

--Halliwell's _Nursery Rhymes_, cccxxxiii.

IV. We are three brethren come from Spain, All in French garlands; We are come to court your daughter Jean, And adieu to you, my darlings.

My daughter Jean, she is too young, All in French garlands; She cannot bide your flattering tongue, And adieu to you, my darlings.

Be she young, or be she old, All in French garlands; It's for a bride she must be sold, And adieu to you, my darlings.

A bride, a bride, she shall not be, All in French garlands; Till she go through this world with me, And adieu to you, my darlings.

[There is here a hiatus, the reply of the lovers being wanting.]

Come back, come back, you courteous knights, All in French garlands; Clear up your spurs, and make them bright, And adieu to you, my darlings.

[Another hiatus.]

Smell my lilies, smell my roses, All in French garlands; Which of my maidens do you choose? And adieu to you, my darlings.

Are all your daughters safe and sound? All in French garlands; Are all your daughters safe and sound? And adieu to you, my darlings.

In every pocket a thousand pounds, All in French garlands; On every finger a gay gold ring, And adieu to you, my darlings.

--Chambers's _Popular Rhymes_, 143.

V. Here come three Spaniards out of Spain, A courting to your daughter Jane.

Our daughter Jane, she is too young, She hath not learnt the Spanish tongue.

Whether she be young, or whether she be old, It's for her beauty she must be sold.

Turn back, turn back, ye Spanish knight, And rub your spurs till they be bright.

Our spurs are bright and richly wrought, For in this town they were not bought; And in this town they shan't be sold, Neither for silver nor for gold.

Pass through the kitchen, and through the hall, And pick the fairest of them all.

This is the fairest I can see, So pray, young lady, walk with me.

--Leicester (Miss Ellis).

VI. Here come three Spaniards out of Spain, A courting of your daughter Jane.

My daughter Jane, she is too young, She has not learned the Spanish tongue.

Whether she be young or old, She must have a gift of gold; So fare you well, my lady gay, We'll turn our heads another way.

Come back, come back, thou Spanish knight, And pick the fairest in this night.

--Addy's _Sheffield Glossary_.

VII. There were three lords they came from Spain, They came to court my daughter Jane;

My daughter Jane, she is too young To hear your false and flattering tongue.

So fare thee well, your daughter Jane, I'll call again, another day, another year.

Turn back, turn back, and choose The fairest one that you can see.

The fairest one that I can see, Is pretty Jane, will you come with me.

[Jane says No.]

The proud little girl, she won't come out, she won't come out, to help us with our dancing; So fare you well, I'll come again another day.

Turn back, turn back, and choose The fairest one that you can see.

The fairest one that I can see, Is pretty Sarah, will you come with me?

[Yes.]

Now we have got the pretty fair maid To help us with our dancing, Dance round the ring.

--Belfast (W. H. Patterson).

VIII. There was one lord came out of Spain, He came to court our daughter Jane.

Our daughter Jane, she is too young, To be controlled by flattering tongue.

Oh! fare thee well. Oh! fare thee well, I'll go and court some other girl.

Come back, come back, your coat is wide, And choose the fairest on our side.

The fairest one that I can see, Come unto me, come unto me.

--Belfast (W. H. Patterson).

IX. There were three lords came out of Spain, They came to court my daughter Jane;

My daughter Jane, she is too young To bear your false and flattering tongue.

So fare you well, so fare you well, I'll go and court some other girl.

Come back, come back, your coat is white, And choose the fairest in your sight.

The fairest one that I can see, Is [ ] come unto me.

--Belfast (W. H. Patterson).

X. Here come three dukes dressed all in green, They come to court your daughter Jane.

My daughter Jane, she is too young To understand your flattering tongue.

Let her be young, or let her be old, It is for her beauty she must be sold.

Eighteenpence would buy such a wench, As either you or your daughter Jane.[10]

--Middlesex (from Mrs. Pocklington-Coltman's maid).

XI. There came a king from Spain, To court your daughter Jane.

My daughter Jane, she's yet too young To be deluded by a flattering tongue.

Whether she's old, or whether she's young, It's for her beauty she must come.

Then turn about, her coat is thin, And seek the fairest of your right.

The fairest one that I can see Is fair and lovely Jan-ie.

Then here's my daughter safe and sound, And in her pocket three hundred pound, And on her finger a gay gold ring, She's fit to walk with any king.

--Annaverna, Ravensdale, Co. Louth (Miss R. Stephens).

XII. There came three dukes a-riding, riding, riding; Oh! we be come all out of Spain, All for to court your daughter Jane.

My daughter Jane, she is too young, She has not learned her mother-tongue.

Let her be young, or let her be old, The fate of beauty's to be sold.

Here's my daughter safe and sound, And in her pocket a thousand pound, And on her finger a gay gold ring.

Here's your daughter not safe nor sound, And in her pocket no thousand pound, And on her finger no gay gold ring; Open your door and take her in.

--London (Miss Dendy).

XIII. There came three dukes all out of Spain, All for to court your daughter Jane.

My daughter Jane, she is too young, She has not learned her mother-tongue.

Let her be young, let her be old, The fate of beauty's to be sold.

Walk through the parlour, walk through the hall, And choose the fairest one of all.

The fairest one that I can see Is little ----, so come to me. No!

Will you come? No!

Naughty one, naughty one, you won't come out To join us in our dancing! Will you come? Yes!

Now we've got a pretty fair one To join us in our dancing.

--Colleyhurst, Manchester (Miss Dendy).

XIV. Two poor gentlemen are come out of Spain, Come to court your daughter Jane.

My daughter Jane, is yet too young To understand your flattering tongue.

Let her be young, or let her be old, She must be sold for Spanish gold.

Turn back, turn back, you haughty knight, And take the fairest in your sight.

This is the fairest I can see, So ( ) must come to me.

--Bexley Heath (Miss Morris).

XV. Here come three lords all dressed in green, All for the sake of your daughter Jane.

My daughter Jane, she is so young, She doesn't know her mother-tongue.

[Or,

My cake ain't baked, my ban [_qy._ beer or barm] ain't brewed, And yew can't hev my daughter Jane.]

Fie upon you and your daughter Jane; [scornfully,] Eighteenpence will buy a good wench, As well as you and your daughter Jane.

--Swaffham, Norfolk (Miss Matthews).

XVI. Here come three lords all dressed in green, Here come three lords all come from Spain, All for the sake of your daughter Jane.

My daughter Jane, she is so young, She hath no knowledge in her tongue.

--Kent (Miss Fowler).

XVII. I am a gentleman come from Spain; I've come to court your daughter Jane.

My daughter Jane, is yet too young To understand your flattering tongue.

Let her be young, or let her be old, She must be sold for Spanish gold. So fare thee well, my lady gay, I'll call upon you another day.

Turn back, turn back, you saucy lad,[11] And choose the fairest you can spy!

The fairest one that I can see Is pretty Miss ----. Come to me!

I've brought your daughter home safe and sound, With money in her pocket here, a thousand pound: Take your saucy girl back again.

--Bocking, Essex (_Folk-lore Record_, iii. pt. ii. 171).

XVIII. Here comes three knights all out of Spain, A-courting of your daughter Jane.

My daughter Jane, she is too young, She can't abide your flattering tongue.

If she be young, or she be old, She for her beauty must be sold.

Go back, go back, you Spanish knight, And rub your spurs till they are bright.

My spurs are bright and richly wrought, And in this town they were not bought, And in this town they shan't be sold, Neither for silver nor for gold.

Walk up the kitchen and down the hall, And choose the fairest of us all.

Madams, to you I bow and bend, I take you for my dearest friend; You are two beauties, I declare, So come along with me, my dear.

--Wenlock, Condover, Ellesmere, Market Drayton (_Shropshire Folk-lore_, p. 516).

XIX. Here come three dukes all out of Spain, In mourning for your daughter Jane.

My daughter Jane, is yet too young To cast her eyes on such a one.

Let her be young, or let her be old, 'Tis for her beauty she must be sold. So fare thee well, my lady gay, I'll call on you another day.

Turn back, turn back, you saucy Jack, Up through the kitchen and through the hall, And pick the fairest of them all.

The fairest one that I can see. So please, Miss ----, come with me.

--Pembrokeshire, Wales (_Folk-lore Record_, v. 89).

XX. Here's two brothers come from Spain, For to court your daughter Jane.

My daughter Jane, she is too young, She has not learned her mother tongue.

Be she young, or be she old, For her beauty she must be sold.

But fare thee well, my lady gay, And I'll call back some other day.

Come back! come back! take the fairest you see.

The fairest one that I can see Is bonnie Jeanie [or Maggie, &c.], so come to me.

Here's your daughter, safe and sound, In every pocket a thousand pound, On every finger a gay gold ring, So, pray, take your daughter back again.

--_People's Friend_, quoted in review of "Arbroath: Past and Present."

XXI. We are three suitors come from Spain, Come to court your daughter Jane.

My daughter Jane she is too young To be beguiled by flattering tongue.

Let her be young, or let her be old, For her beauty she must be sold.

Return, return, your coat is white, And take the fairest in your sight.

Here's your daughter safe and sound, And in her pocket five hundred pound, On her finger a gay gold ring, Fit to walk with any king.

--Dublin (Mrs. Lincoln).

XXII. Here comes a poor duke out of Spain, He comes to court your daughter Jane.

My daughter Jane is yet too young, She has a false and flattering tongue.

Let her be young, or let her be old, Her beauty is gone, she must be sold.

Fare thee well, my lady gay, I'll call again another day.

Turn back, turn back, you ugly wight, And clean your spurs till they shine bright.

My spurs they shine as bright as snow, And fit for any king to show; So fare thee well, my lady gay, I'll call again another day.

Turn back, turn back, you ugly wight, And choose the fairest one you like.

The fairest one that I can see, Is you, dear ----, so come with me.

--_Notes and Queries_ (1852), vol. vi. 242.

XXIII. Here comes three knights all out of Spain, We have come to court your daughter Jane.

Our daughter Jane she is too young, She has not learned the Spanish tongue.

Whether she be young or old, 'Tis for her beauty she must be sold.

Turn back, turn back, ye Spanish knights, And rub your spurs till they are bright.

Our spurs are bright and richly wrought, For in this town they were not bought; And in this town they shan't be sold, Neither for silver nor for gold.

Turn back, turn back, ye Spanish knights, And brush your buckles till they are bright.

Our buckles are bright and richly wrought, For in this town they were not bought; And in this town they shan't be sold, Neither for silver nor for gold.

--Yorkshire (Miss E. Cadman).

XXIV. There was one lord that came from Spain, He came to court my daughter Jane;

My daughter Jane, she is too young To be controlled by a flattering tongue.

Will you? No. Will you? Yes.

[This second one then joins hands with the "lord," and they dance round together, saying--]

You dirty wee scut, you wouldn't come out To help us with our dancing.

--Ballymiscaw school, co. Down (Miss C. N. Patterson).

XXV. There were one lord came out of Spain, Who came to court your daughter Jane.

Your daughter Jane, she is too young To be controlled by flattering tongue.

Oh! fare thee well; oh! fare thee well; I'll go and court some other girl.

Come back, come back, your coat is white, And choose the fairest in your sight.

The fairest one that I can see, is ----, come to me.

--Holywood, co. Down (Miss C. N. Patterson).

XXVI. Here's two dukes come out from Spain, For to court your daughter Jane;

My daughter Jane is far too young, She cannot hear your flattering tongue.

Be she young, or be she old, Her beauty must be sold, Either for silver or for gold; So fare you well, my lady fair, I'll call again some other day.

--Galloway (J. G. Carter).

XXVII. Here's one old Jew, just come from Spain, To ask alone your daughter Jane.

Our daughter Jane is far too young To understand your Spanish tongue.

Go away, Coat-green.

My name is _not_ Coat-green, I _step_ my foot, and away I go.

Come back, come back, your coat is green, And choose the fairest one you see.

The fairest one that I can see Is pretty Alice. Come to me.

I will not come.

Naughty girl, she won't come out, She won't come out, she won't come out; Naughty girl, she won't come out, To see the ladies dancing.

I will come.

Pretty girl, she has come out, She has come out, she has come out; Pretty girl, she has come out, To see the ladies dancing.

--Berwickshire (A. M. Bell, _Antiquary_, vol. xxx. p. 15).

XXVIII. Here come two Jews, just come from Spain, To take away your daughter Jane.

My daughter Jane is far too young, She cannot bear your chattering tongue.

Farewell! farewell! we must not stay; We'll call again another day.

Come back, come back, your choice is free, And choose the fairest one you see.