Part 27
In the Benefit of the Auncient Bathes of Buckstones, compiled by John Jones at the King's Mede, nigh Darby, 1572, 4to. p. 12, we read: "The ladyes, gentle woomen, wyves, and maydes, maye in one of the galleries walke; and if the weather bee not aggreeable too theire expectacion, they may haue in the ende of a benche eleuen holes made, intoo the which to trowle pummetes, or bowles of leade, bigge, little, or meane, or also of copper, tynne, woode, eyther vyolent or softe, after their owne discretion; the pastyme _troule-in-madame_ is termed." Probably similar to "Nine Holes."
Trounce-Hole
A game at ball resembling trap, but having a hole in the ground for the trap, a flat piece of bone for a trigger, and a cudgel for a bat.--Norfolk, Holloway's _Dictionary of Provincialisms_.
See "Trunket."
Troy Town
A game in which a plan of a labyrinth is drawn on a slate and presented as a puzzle by boys to their schoolfellows for them to find a way into the central citadel. It appears to owe its origin to the mediæval mazes or labyrinths called "Troy Towns," or "Troy Walls," many of which existed in different parts of England and Wales. It appears that games connected with the midsummer festivals were held in these labyrinths. This may, perhaps, account for the origin of this puzzle being considered a game. For accounts of labyrinths or mazes called "Troy Towns," see _Notes and Queries_, 1st series, xi. 132, 193; 2nd series, v. 211-213; 8th series, iv. 96, 97; in which many references are given; _Tran. Cymmrodorion Soc._, 1822, i. 67-69; Roberts' _Cambrian Antiquities_ (in which is a plan), 212, 213; and _Folk-lore Journal_, v. 45.
Truncher
A game requiring dexterity. A young man lies flat, resting only on his toes at a certain mark at one extremity and on a trencher in each hand at the other. He then tries to reach out the trenchers as far as possible, and if not held at the right angle and edgewise, down they go and he is defeated.--Dickinson's _Cumberland Glossary_.
Trunket
A game at ball played with short sticks, and having a hole in the ground in lieu of stumps or wickets as in "Cricket"; and with these exceptions, and the ball being "cop'd," instead of bowled or trickled on the ground, it is played in the same way; the person striking the ball must be caught out, or the ball must be deposited in the hole before the stick or cudgel can be placed there.--Halliwell's _Dictionary_.
See "Cudgel," "Trounce Hole."
Truss
A boy's game like "Leap-Frog."--Halliwell's _Dictionary_.
Tuilyie-wap
A childish amusement in Teviotdale, in which a number of boys take hold of each other's hands and wrap themselves round the one who is at the head; clasping themselves as firmly together as possible, and every one pushing till the mass falls over.--Jamieson.
See "Bulliheisle," "Eller Tree," "Snail-Creep," "Wind the Bush Faggot."
Turn, Cheeses, Turn
Green cheeses, yellow laces, Up and down the market places; First a penny and then a groat, Turn, cheeses, turn.
--Leicester (Miss Ellis).
Green cheeses, yellow laces, Up and down the market places, Turn, cheeses, turn!
--Halliwell's _Nursery Rhymes_, cccx.
This is acted by two or more girls who walk or dance up and down, turning, when they say "Turn, cheeses, turn."--Halliwell.
I remember playing this game, but my remembrance is very imperfect. As far as I remember, there were two lines or rows of children. They danced forwards and backwards, crossing to the opposite side, and turning round. At the words, "Turn, cheeses, turn," the cheeses all turned round rapidly and then sank on the ground. The players tried to inflate their dresses as much as possible, and then stooped down to the ground, so that the dress remained inflated; only the head and shoulders surrounded by a ball-like skirt then appeared, intended to represent a cheese. All joined hands and danced round at the end. The lines sang were the same as the Leicester except the third, which was--"Some a penny, some a groat, turn, cheeses, turn." It was necessary for skirts to be very "full" to make good cheeses--as wide at the waist as at the bottom of the skirt.--(A. B. Gomme.)
Holland (_Cheshire Glossary_) says, a frequent amusement of girls is making cheeses. They turn round and round till their dresses fly out at the bottom; then suddenly squatting down, the air confined under the dress causes the skirt to bulge out like a balloon. When skilfully done the appearance is that of a girl's head and shoulders peeping out of an immense cushion. Evans' _Leicestershire Glossary_ mentions this game. He says, "The performers sing a song of which the refrain is 'Turn, cheeses, turn,' but I do not remember to have heard the example cited by Mr. Halliwell-Phillips."--_Percy Soc._, iv. p. 122.
I always understood that the green cheeses were sage cheeses--cheeses containing sage. Halliwell says, "Green cheeses, I am informed, are made with sage and potato tops. Two girls are said to be 'cheese and cheese.'"
Turn Spit Jack
A game at country balls, &c., in which young men compete by singing for their partners in the next dance.--Patterson's _Antrim and Down Glossary_.
Turn the Ship
This is commonly a girls' game. Two join hands and trip along, with hands crossed, turning from one side to the other, and crossing their arms over their heads without letting go their hold of each other, singing at the same time--
Tip, tip, toe, London, lo! Turn, Mary Ann, and away you go.
Or--
Tip, tip, toe, leerie, lo! Turn the ship and away you go; A penny to you, and a penny to me, And a penny to turn the basket.
--Fochabers (Rev. W. Gregor).
Turn the Trencher, or, My Lady's Toilet
An indoor game played at Christmas time by children and adults. All the players in the room must be seated. They are then asked by the leader of the game to choose some article of a lady's toilet, which article they will personally represent, such as diamond ring, bracelet, comb, brush, jug, basin, powder, hair-dye, dress, mantle, &c.--any article, in fact, belonging to the toilet.
The leader then goes to the centre of the room with a small trencher, round card tray, plate, or saucer in her hand. She spins this (the trencher) round as quickly as possible, saying, "My lady's going out and needs her 'dress,'" or any other article she chooses to name. The player who has taken the name of "dress" must get up from her seat and catch the trencher before it falls. If successful this player then spins the trencher, calling out the name of another article of the toilet. If the player fails to catch it, a forfeit is demanded by the leader. Occasionally the spinner will say, "My lady's going to a ball (or elsewhere), and needs the whole of her toilet." When this is said, every player has to get up and take another place before the trencher falls; the last one to get a place has to take the trencher, and if it is down, to pay a forfeit. At the end of the game the forfeits are "cried" in the usual way.--(A. B. Gomme.)
This (called "Truckle the Trencher") used to be a standard game for winter evenings. A circle was formed, and each one was seated on the floor, every player taking the name of a flower. This game was entered into with the greatest vivacity by staid and portly individuals as well as by their juniors.--Dorsetshire (_Folk-lore Journal_, vii. 238).
A trencher, saucer, or plate is used. The players sit in a circle, and one twirls the trencher, at the same time calling out the name of one of the players. He or she jumps up and tries to catch the whirling trencher before it falls. If it falls or is knocked over, a forfeit is lodged, and the player who lodged the forfeit now becomes the twirler. If the trencher is caught, it is handed back and twirled again, and another name called out. The game continues till all or, at least, most of the players have lodged forfeits. It is called "Turn the Plettie."--Macduff (Rev. W. Gregor).
This game is played in the same way in Ireland. It is called "Twirl the Trencher," and the players take names of towns or beasts.--(Miss Keane.)
Brogden (_Provincial Words, Lincolnshire_) and Halliwell (_Dictionary_) mention it as "Turn Trencher," a game played at Christmas time. Moor (_Suffolk Words and Phrases_) calls it "Move all."
Turvey
Turvey, turvey, clothed in black, With silver buttons upon your back; One by one, and two by two, Turn about, and that will do.
--Haverfordwest (_Notes and Queries_, 3rd series, v. 394).
The children marched two and two, in a measured step to a given distance, then turned and marched back again.
See "Alligoshee."
Tutt-ball
"Tut-ball,"[12] as played at a young ladies' school at Shiffnal fifty years ago. The players stood together in their "den," behind a line marked on the ground, all except one, who was "out," and who stood at a distance and threw the ball to them. One of the players in the den then hit back the ball with the palm of the hand, and immediately ran to one of three brickbats, called "tuts," which were set up at equal distances on the ground, in such positions that a player running past them all would describe a complete circle by the time she returned to the den. The player who was "out" tried to catch the ball, and to hit the runner with it while passing from one "tut" to another. If she succeeded in doing so, she took her place in the den, and the other went "out" in her stead. This game is very nearly identical with "rounders."--_Shropshire Folk-lore_, p. 524.
A game at ball, now only played by boys, but half a century ago by adults on Ash Wednesday, believing that unless they did so they would fall sick in harvest time. This is a very ancient game, and was elsewhere called "Stool-ball," indulged in by the clergy as well as laity to avert misfortune.--Ross and Stead's _Holderness Glossary_. The game is not described.
Addy (_Sheffield Glossary_) says this game is the same as "Pize-ball." Halliwell (_Dictionary_) says it is a sort of "Stob-ball Play."
See "Cat and Dog," "Rounders," "Stool Ball."
[12] _Tut_, a prominence, from A. S. _tótian_, whence also E. _tout_, q.v.--W. W. S.
Twelve Days of Christmas
[Music]
--Rimbault's _Nursery Rhymes_.
I. The first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me A partridge in a pear-tree.
The second day of Xmas, my true love sent to me Two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear-tree.
The third day of Xmas, my true love sent to me Three French hens and two turtle doves and A partridge in a pear-tree.
The fourth day of Xmas, my true love sent to me Four colly birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and A partridge in a pear-tree.
The fifth day of Xmas, my true love sent to me Five gold rings, four colly birds, three French hens, Two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear-tree.
The sixth day of Xmas, my true love sent to me Six geese a-laying, five gold rings, Four colly birds, three French hens, Two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear-tree.
The seventh day of Xmas, my true love sent to me Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, five gold rings, Four colly birds, three French hens, Two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear-tree.
The eighth day of Xmas, my true love sent to me Eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, five gold rings, Four colly birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and A partridge in a pear-tree.
The ninth day of Xmas, my true love sent to me Nine drummers drumming, eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, Five gold rings, four colly birds, three French hens, Two turtle doves, and A partridge in a pear-tree.
The tenth day of Xmas, my true love sent to me Ten pipers piping, nine drummers drumming, Eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, five gold rings, Four colly birds, three French hens, Two turtle doves, and A partridge in a pear-tree.
The eleventh day of Xmas, my true love sent to me Eleven ladies dancing, ten pipers piping, Nine drummers drumming, eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, Five gold rings, four colly birds, Three French hens, two turtle doves, and A partridge in a pear-tree.
The twelfth day of Xmas, my true love sent to me Twelve lords a-leaping, eleven ladies dancing, Ten pipers piping, nine drummers drumming, Eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, five gold rings, Four colly birds, three French hens, Two turtle doves, and A partridge in a pear-tree.
--Halliwell's _Nursery Rhymes_, cccxlvi.
II. The king sent his lady on the first Yule day, A papingo-aye [a peacock]; Wha learns my carol and carries it away?
The king sent his lady on the second Yule day, Three partridges, a papingo-aye; Wha learns my carol and carries it away?
The king sent his lady on the third Yule day, Three plovers, three partridges, a papingo-aye; Wha learns my carol and carries it away?
The king sent his lady on the fourth Yule day, A goose that was grey, Three plovers, three partridges, a papingo-aye; Wha learns my carol and carries it away?
The king sent his lady on the fifth Yule day, Three starlings, a goose that was grey, Three plovers, three partridges, and a papingo-aye; Wha learns my carol and carries it away?
The king sent his lady on the sixth Yule day, Three goldspinks, three starlings, a goose that was grey, Three plovers, three partridges, and a papingo-aye; Wha learns my carol and carries it away?
The king sent his lady on the seventh Yule day, A bull that was brown, three goldspinks, three starlings, A goose that was grey, Three plovers, three partridges, and a papingo-aye; Wha learns my carol and carries it away?
The king sent his lady on the eighth Yule day, Three ducks a-merry laying, a bull that was brown-- [The rest to follow as before.]
The king sent his lady on the ninth Yule day, Three swans a-merry swimming-- [As before.]
The king sent his lady on the tenth Yule day, An Arabian baboon-- [As before.]
The king sent his lady on the eleventh Yule day, Three hinds a-merry hunting-- [As before.]
The king sent his lady on the twelfth Yule day, Three maids a-merry dancing-- [As before.]
The king sent his lady on the thirteenth Yule day, Three stalks o' merry corn, three maids a-merry dancing, Three hinds a-merry hunting, an Arabian baboon, Three swans a-merry swimming, Three ducks a-merry laying, a bull that was brown, Three goldspinks, three starlings, a goose that was grey, Three plovers, three partridges, a papingo-aye; Wha learns my carol and carries it away?
--Chambers's _Pop. Rhymes_, p. 42.
III. My lady's lap dog, Two plump partridges and my lady's lap dog; Three grey elephants, two plump partridges and my lady's lap dog; Four Persian cherry trees, three grey elephants, &c.; Five Limerick oysters, four Persian cherry trees, &c.; Six bottles of frontignac, &c.; Seven swans a-swimming, &c., Eight flip flap, floating fly boats, &c.; Nine merchants going to Bagdad, &c.; Ten Italian dancing-masters going to teach ten Arabian magpies how to dance, &c.; Eleven guests going to celebrate the marriage of the Princess Baldroulbadour with the Prince of Terra-del-Fuego, &c.; Twelve triumphant trumpeters triumphantly trumpeting the tragical tradition of Telemachus.
--London (A. B. Gomme).
IV. Twelve huntsmen with horns and hounds, Hunting over other men's grounds! Eleven ships sailing o'er the main, Some bound for France and some for Spain; I wish them all safe home again. Ten comets in the sky, Some low and some high; Nine peacocks in the air, I wonder how they all come there, I do not know and I do not care. Eight joiners in a joiners' hall, Working with the tools and all; Seven lobsters in a dish, As fresh as any heart could wish; Six beetles against the wall, Close by an old woman's apple stall; Five puppies of our dog Ball, Who daily for their breakfast call; Four horses stuck in a bog, Three monkeys tied to a clog; Two pudding ends would choke a dog, With a gaping wide-mouthed waddling frog.
--Halliwell's _Nursery Rhymes_, cclxxx., cvi.
(_c_) "The Twelve Days" was a Christmas game. It was a customary thing in a friend's house to play "The Twelve Days," or "My Lady's Lap Dog," every Twelfth Day night. The party was usually a mixed gathering of juveniles and adults, mostly relatives, and before supper--that is, before eating mince pies and twelfth cake--this game and the cushion dance were played, and the forfeits consequent upon them always cried. The company were all seated round the room. The leader of the game commenced by saying the first line. Generally the version used was similar to No. I. In later years the shorter version, No. III., was said. The lines for the "first day" of Christmas was said by each of the company in turn; then the first "day" was repeated, with the addition of the "second" by the leader, and then this was said all round the circle in turn. This was continued until the lines for the "twelve days" were said by every player. For every mistake a forfeit--a small article belonging to the person--had to be given up. These forfeits were afterwards "cried" in the usual way, and were not returned to the owner until they had been redeemed by the penalty inflicted being performed.
In version No. IV., the game began by the leader saying to the player sitting next to her, "Take this!" holding the hands as if giving something. The neighbour answered, "What's this?" The leader answered, "A gaping, wide-mouthed, waddling frog." The second player then turned to the third and repeated, "A gaping, wide-mouthed, waddling frog," and so on all round the room. The leader then said, "Two pudding-ends would choke a dog," continuing in the same way until twelve was reached. Chambers does not describe the way the game given by him was played, but it was probably much in the same manner. Rimbault's _Nursery Rhymes_ gives the tune to which words of the song were repeated. The words given are almost identical with No. I., but the tune, copied here, is the only recorded one I have found.
(_d_) It seems probable that we have in these rhymes a remnant of a practice of singing or chanting carols or rhymes relating to the custom of sending gifts to friends and relatives during the twelve days of Christmas. The festival of the twelve days was an important one. The great mid-winter feast of Yule consisted of twelve days, and from the events occurring during those days it is probable that events of the future twelve months were foretold.--On the festival of the twelve days consult Keary's _Outlines of Primitive Belief_, p. 381. Miss Burne records that the twelve days rule the year's weather; as the weather is on each day of the twelve, so will it be in the corresponding month, and for every mince-pie eaten in friends' houses during these days a happy month is promised. In the games usually played at this season, viz., those in which forfeits are incurred, and the redemption of these by penances inflicted on the unhappy perpetrators of mistakes, we may perhaps see a relic of the observance of certain customs and ceremonies, and the penalties likely to be incurred by those persons who omitted to religiously carry them out. It is considered unlucky in the North of England and Scotland to enter a neighbour's house empty-handed. Christmas bounties, and the practice of giving presents of food and corn and meal on St. Thomas's Day, 21st December, to the poorer people, when they used to go round to the farmers' houses to collect food to prepare for this festival, may have had its origin in the idea that nothing could be prepared or cooked during the festival of the twelve days. It was a very general practice for work of all kinds to be put entirely aside before Christmas and not resumed until after Twelfth Day. Dr. Gregor records that no bread should be baked nor washing done during this period, nor work left unfinished. Jamieson, in a note on Yule, says that the _gifts_ now generally conferred at the New Year seem to have originally belonged to Yule. Among the northern nations it was customary for subjects at this season to present gifts to their sovereign,--these were called Jolagiafir, _i.e._ Yule gifts. The custom in Scotland of presenting what we vulgarly call a sweetie-skon, or a loaf enriched with raisins and currants, has an analogy to this.
It is difficult, with the scanty evidence at command, to do more than make the simple suggestions above. The game is evidently in a process of very rapid decadence, and we have probably only poor specimens of what was originally the form of verses sung in the two versions from Halliwell and Chambers. The London version, No. III., is only recognisable as belonging to this game from the fact that it was known as playing at the "twelve days," was always played on Twelfth Day, and it was not considered proper nor polite for the guests to depart until this had been played. This fact has induced me to add the fourth version from Halliwell, because it appears to me that it may belong to the final form which this game is taking, or has taken, namely, a mere collection of alliterative nursery words, or rhymes, to puzzle the speaker under a rapid repetition, and to exact forfeits for the mistakes made.
See "Forfeits."
Twelve Holes
A game similar to "Nine Holes," mentioned in Florio ed., 1611, p. 20.--Halliwell's _Dictionary_.
Uncle John is Ill in Bed
I. Uncle John is ill in bed, What shall I send him? Three good wishes, and three good kisses, And a race of ginger. Who shall I send it by? By the carrier's daughter; Catch her by the lily-white hand And carry her over the water. _Sally_ goes a-courting night and day, Histal, whistal, by her side, _Johnny Everall_ by her side.
--Shrewsbury, Chirbury (Burne's _Shropshire Folk-lore_, p. 511).
II. Uncle Tom is very sick, What shall we send him? A piece of cake, a piece of bread, A piece of apple dumpling. Who shall we send it with? Mrs. So and So's daughter. She is neither without, She is neither within, She is up in the parlour romping about. She came downstairs dressed in silk, A rose in her breast as white as milk. She pulled off her glove, She showed me her ring, To-morrow, to-morrow the wedding shall begin.
--Nairn (Rev. W. Gregor).