Part 4

(_d_) This game indicates a contest between two opposing parties, and a punishment, and although in the game the sequence of events is not at all clear, the contest taking place after the supposed execution, these two events stand out very clearly as the chief factors. In the endeavour to ascertain who the contending parties were, one cannot but be struck with the significance of the bells having different saint's names. Now the only places where it would be probable for bells to be associated with more than one saint's name within the circuit of a small area are the old parish units of cities and boroughs. Bells were rung on occasions when it was necessary or advisable to call the people together. At the ringing of the "alarm bell" the market places were quickly filled by crowds of citizens; and by turning to the customs of these places in England, it will be found that contest games between parishes, and between the wards of parishes, were very frequent (see Gomme's _Village Community_, pp. 241-243). These contests were generally conducted by the aid of the football, and in one or two cases, such as at Ludlow, the contest was with a rope, and, in the case of Derby, it is specially stated that the victors were announced by the joyful ringing of their parish bells. Indeed, Halliwell has preserved the "song on the bells of Derby on football morning" (No. clxix.) as follows:--

Pancake and fritters, Say All Saints and St. Peter's; When will the _ball_ come, Say the bells of St. Alkmun; At two they will throw, Says Saint Werabo; O! very well, Says little Michel.

This custom is quite sufficient to have originated the game, and the parallel which it supplies is evidence of the connection between the two. Oranges and lemons were, in all probability, originally intended to mean the _colours_ of the two contesting parties, and not _fruits_ of those names. In contests between the people of a town and the authority of baron or earl, the adherents of each side ranged themselves under and wore the colours of their chiefs, as is now done by political partizans.

The rhymes are probably corrupted, but whether from some early cries or calls of the different parishes, or from sentences which the bells were supposed to have said or sung when tolled, it is impossible to say. The "clemming" of the bells in the Norfolk version (No. 5) may have originated "St. Clements," and the other saints have been added at different times. On the other hand, the general similarity of the rhymes indicates the influence of some particular place, and, judging by the parish names, London seems to be that place. If this is so, the main incident of the rhymes may perhaps be due to the too frequent distribution of a traitor's head and limbs among different towns who had taken up his cause. The exhibitions of this nature at London were more frequent than at any other place. The procession of a criminal to execution was generally accompanied by the tolling of bells, and by torches. It is not unlikely that the monotonous chant of the last lines, "Here comes a light to light you to bed," &c., indicates this.

'Otmillo

A boy (A) kneels with his face in another's (B) lap; the other players standing in the background. They step forward one by one at a signal from B, who says to each in turn--

'Otmillo, 'Otmillo, Where is this poor man to go?

A then designates a place for each one. When all are despatched A removes his face from B's knees, and standing up exclaims, "Hot! Hot! Hot!" The others then run to him, and the laggard is blinded instead of A.--Warwickshire (Northall's _Folk Rhymes_, p. 402).

This is probably the same game as "Hot Cockles," although it apparently lacks the hitting or buffeting the blinded wizard.

Over Clover

The name for the game of "Warner" in Oxfordshire. They have a song used in the game commencing--

Over clover, Nine times over.

--Halliwell's _Dictionary_.

See "Stag Warning."

Paddy from Home

[Music]

--Long Eaton, Notts. (Miss Youngman).

Paddy from home has never been, A railway train he's never seen, He longs to see the great machine That travels along the railway.

--Long Eaton, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire borders (Miss Youngman).

(_c_) The children form a ring, and hold in their hands a string tied at the ends, and on which a ring is strung. They pass the ring from one to another, backwards and forwards. One child stands in the centre, who tries to find the holder of the ring. Whoever is discovered holding it takes the place of the child in the centre.

(_d_) This game is similar to "Find the Ring." The verse is, no doubt, modern, though the action and the string and ring are borrowed from an older game. Another verse used for the same game at Earl's Heaton (Mr. Hardy) is--

The ring it is going; Oh where? oh where? I don't care where, I can't tell where.

Paip

Three cherry stones are placed together, and another above them. These are all called a castle. The player takes aim with a cherry stone, and when he overturns the castle he claims the spoil.--Jamieson. See "Cob Nut."

Pallall

A Scottish name for "Hop Scotch."--Jamieson.

Pally Ully

See "Hop Scotch."

Pat-ball

A child's name for the simple game of throwing a ball from one to another.--Lowsley's _Berkshire Glossary_.

Pay-swad

A boys' game, somewhat similar to "Duckstone." Each boy, when he threw his stone, had to say "Pay-swad," or he had to go down himself.--Holland's _Cheshire Glossary_.

See "Duckstone."

Pednameny

A game played with pins: also called "Pinny Ninny," "Pedna-a mean," "Heads and Tails," a game of pins.--Courtenay's _West Cornwall Glossary_.

Peesie Weet

The game of "Hide and Seek." When the object is hidden the word "Peesie-weet" is called out.--Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire (Rev. W. Gregor).

See "Hide and Seek (2)."

Peg and Stick

The players provide themselves with short, stout sticks, and a peg (a piece of wood sharpened at one or both ends). A ring is made, and the peg is placed on the ground so as to balance. One boy then strikes it with his stick to make it spring or bounce up into the air; while in the air he strikes it with his stick, and sends it as far as he possibly can. His opponent declares the number of leaps in which the striker is to cover the distance the peg has gone. If successful, he counts the number of leaps to his score. If he fails, his opponent leaps, and, if successful, the number of leaps count to his score. He strikes the next time, and the same process is gone through.--Earls Heaton, Yorks. (Herbert Hardy).

See "Tip-cat."

Peg-fiched

A west country game. The performers in this game are each furnished with a sharp-pointed stake. One of them then strikes it into the ground, and the others, throwing their sticks across it, endeavour to dislodge it. When a stick falls, the owner has to run to a prescribed distance and back, while the rest, placing the stick upright, endeavour to beat it into the ground up to the very top.--Halliwell's _Dictionary_.

Peggy Nut

A boyish game with nuts.--Dickinson's _Cumberland Glossary_.

Peg-in-the-Ring

A game of "Peg-top." The object of this game is to spin the top within a certain circle marked out, in which the top is to exhaust itself without once overstepping the bounds prescribed (Halliwell's _Dict. Provincialisms_). Holloway (_Dictionary_) says, "When boys play at 'Peg-top,' a ring is formed on the ground, within which each boy is to spin his top. If the top, when it has ceased spinning, does not roll without the circle, it must remain in the ring to be pegged at by the other boys, or he redeems it by putting in an inferior one, which is called a 'Mull.' When the top does not roll out, it is said to be 'mulled.'" Mr. Emslie writes: "When the top fell within the ring the boys cried, 'One a penny!' When two had fallen within the ring it was, 'Two a penny!' When three, 'Three a penny, good as any!' The aim of each spinner was to do what was called 'drawing,' _i.e._, bring his top down into the ring, and at the same time draw the string so as to make the top spin within the ring, and yet come towards the player and out of the ring so as to fall without."

See "Tops."

Peg-top

One of the players, chosen by lot, spins his top. The other players endeavour to strike this top with the pegs of their own tops as they fling them down to spin. If any one fails to spin his top in due form, he has to lay his top on the ground for the others to strike at when spinning. The object of each spinner is to split the top which is being aimed at, so as to release the peg, and the boy whose top has succeeded in splitting the other top obtains the peg as his trophy of victory. It is a matter of ambition to obtain as many pegs in this manner as possible.--London (G. L. Gomme).

See "Peg-in-the-Ring," "Tops."

Penny Cast

A game played with round flat stones, about four or six inches across, being similar to the game of quoits; sometimes played with pennies when the hobs are a deal higher. It was not played with pennies in 1810.--Easther's _Almondbury Glossary_. In an article in _Blackwood's Magazine_, August 1821, p. 35, dealing with children's games, the writer says, Pennystanes are played much in the same manner as the quoits or discus of the ancient Romans, to which warlike people the idle tradesmen of Edinburgh probably owe this favourite game.

See "Penny Prick."

Penny Hop

A rude dance, which formerly took place in the common taverns of Sheffield, usually held after the bull-baiting.--Wilson's Notes to _Mather's Songs_, p. 74, cited by Addy, _Sheffield Glossary_.

Penny Prick

"A game consisting of casting oblong pieces of iron at a mark."--Hunter's _Hallamsh. Gloss._, p. 71. Grose explains it, "Throwing at halfpence placed on sticks which are called hobs."

Their idle houres, I meane all houres beside Their houres to eate, to drinke, drab, sleepe, and ride, They spend at shove-boord, or at pennie-pricke.

--Scots' _Philomythie_, 1616.

Halliwell gives these references in his _Dictionary_; Addy, _Sheffield Glossary_, describes it as above; adding, "An old game once played by people of fashion."

See "Penny Cast."

Penny Stanes

See "Penny Cast."

Ph[oe]be

The name of a dance mentioned in an old nursery rhyme. A correspondent gave Halliwell the following lines of a very old song, the only ones he recollected:--

Cannot you dance the Ph[oe]be? Don't you see what pains I take; Don't you see how my shoulders shake? Cannot you dance the Ph[oe]be?

--Halliwell's _Dictionary_.

These words are somewhat of the same character as those of "Auntie Loomie," and are evidently the accompaniment of an old dance.

See "Lubin."

Pick and Hotch

The game of "Pitch and Toss."--Brogden's _Provincial Words_, Lincolnshire. It is called Pickenhotch in Peacock's _Manley and Corringham Glossary_.

Pi-cow

A game in which one half of the players are supposed to keep a castle, while the others go out as a foraging or marauding party. When the latter are all gone out, one of them cries _Pee-ku_, which is a signal to those within to be on the alert. Then those who are without attempt to get in. If any one of them gets in without being seized by the holders of the castle, he cries to his companions, _The hole's won_; and those who are within must yield the fortress. If one of the assailants be taken before getting in he is obliged to change sides and to guard the castle. Sometimes the guards are successful in making prisoners of all the assailants. Also the name given to the game of Hide and Seek.--Jamieson.

Pigeon Walk

A boy's game [undescribed].--Patterson's _Antrim and Down Glossary_.

Pig-ring

A game at marbles where a ring is made about four feet in diameter, and boys "shoot" in turn from any point in the circumference, keeping such marbles as they may knock out of the ring, but loosing their own "taw" if it should stop within.--Lowsley's _Berkshire Glossary_. See "Ring Taw."

Pillie-Winkie

A sport among children in Fife. An egg, an unfledged bird, or a whole nest is placed on a convenient spot. He who has what is called the first _pill_, retires a few paces, and being provided with a cowt or rung, is blindfolded, or gives his promise to wink hard (whence he is called _Winkie_), and moves forward in the direction of the object, as he supposes, striking the ground with the stick all the way. He must not shuffle the stick along the ground, but always strike perpendicularly. If he touches the nest without destroying it, or the egg without breaking it, he loses his vice or turn. The same mode is observed by those who succeed him. When one of the party breaks an egg he is entitled to all the rest as his property, or to some other reward that has been previously agreed on. Every art is employed, without removing the nest or egg, to mislead the blindfolded player, who is also called the Pinkie.--Jamieson. See "Blind Man's Stan."

Pinch

The game of "Pitch-Halfpenny," or "Pitch and Hustle."--Halliwell's _Dictionary_. Addy (_Sheffield Glossary_) says this game consists of pitching halfpence at a mark.

See "Penny Cast," "Penny Prick."

Pinny Show

A child's peep-show. The charge for a peep is a pin, and, under extraordinary circumstances of novelty, two pins.

I remember well being shown how to make a peep or poppet-show. It was made by arranging combinations of colours from flowers under a piece of glass, and then framing it with paper in such a way that a cover was left over the front, which could be raised when any one paid a pin to peep. The following words were said, or rather sung, in a sing-song manner:--

A pin to see the poppet-show, All manner of colours oh! See the ladies all below.

--(A. B. Gomme).

Pansies or other flowers are pressed beneath a piece of glass, which is laid upon a piece of paper, a hole or opening, which can be shut at pleasure, being cut in the paper. The charge for looking at the show is a pin. The children say, "A pin to look at a pippy-show." They also say--

A pinnet a piece to look at a show, All the fine ladies sat in a row. Blackbirds with blue feet Walking up a new street; One behind and one before, And one beknocking at t'barber's door.

--Addy's _Sheffield Glossary_.

In Perth (Rev. W. Gregor) the rhyme is--

A pin to see a poppy show, A pin to see a die, A pin to see an old man Sitting in the sky.

Described also in Holland's _Cheshire Glossary_, and Lowsley's _Berkshire Glossary_. Atkinson's _Cleveland Glossary_ describes it as having coloured pictures pasted inside, and an eye-hole at one of the ends. The _Leed's Glossary_ gives the rhyme as--

A pin to look in, A very fine thing.

Northall (_English Folk-rhymes_, p. 357), also gives a rhyme.

Pins

On the 1st of January the children beg for some pins, using the words, "Please pay Nab's New Year's gift." They then play "a very childish game," but I have not succeeded in getting a description of it.--Yorkshire.

See "Prickie and Jockie."

Pirley Pease-weep

A game played by boys, "and the name demonstrates that it is a native one, for it would require a page of close writing to make it intelligible to an Englishman." The rhyme used at this play is--

Scotsman, Scotsman, lo! Where shall this poor Scotsman go?

Send him east, or send him west, Send him to the craw's nest.

--_Blackwood's Magazine_, August 1821, p. 37.

The rhyme suggests comparison with the game of "Hot Cockles."

Pitch

A game played with pennies, or other round discs. The object is to pitch the penny into a hole in the ground from a certain point.--Elworthy, _West Somerset Words_.

Probably "Pick and Hotch," mentioned in an article in _Blackwood's Mag._, Aug. 1821, p. 35. Common in London streets.

Pitch and Hustle

"Chuck-Farthing." The game of "Pitch and Toss" is very common, being merely the throwing up of halfpence, the result depending on a guess of heads or tails.--Halliwell's _Dictionary_.

Pitch and Toss

This game was played by two or more players with "pitchers"--the stakes being buttons. The ordinary bone button, or "scroggy," being the unit of value. The "pitcher" was made of lead, circular in form, from one and a half inch to two inches in diameter, and about a quarter of an inch thick, with an "[H]" to stand for "Heads" cut on one side, and a "[T]" for "Tails" on the other side. An old-fashioned penny was sometimes used, and an old "two-penny" piece I have by me bears the marks of much service in the same cause. A mark having been set up--generally a stone--and the order of play having been fixed, the first player, A, threw his "pitcher" to the mark, from a point six or seven yards distant. If he thought he lay sufficiently near the mark to make it probable that he would be the nearest after the others had thrown, he said he would "lie." The effect of that was that the players who followed had to lie also, whatever the character of their throw. If A's throw was a poor one he took up his "pitcher." B then threw, if he threw well he "lay," if not he took up his pitcher, in hope of making a better throw, as A had done. C then played in the same manner. D followed and "lay." E played his pitcher, and had no choice but to lie. F followed in the same way. These being all the players, A threw again, and though his second might have been worse than his first, he has to lie like the others. B and C followed. All the pitchers have been thrown, and are lying round the mark, in the following order of proximity--for that regulates the subsequent play--B's is nearest, then D's follows, in order by A, C, F, E. B takes the pitchers, and piles them up one above the other, and tosses them into the air. Three (let us say) fall head up, D's, A's, and F's. These three B keeps in his hand. D, who was next nearest the mark, takes the three remaining pitchers, and in the same manner tosses them into the air. B's and C's fall head up, and are retained by D. A, who comes third, takes the remaining pitcher, E's, and throws it up. If it falls a head he keeps it, and the game is finished except the reckoning; if it falls a tail it passes on to the next player, C, who throws it up. If it falls a head he keeps it, if a tail, it is passed on to F, and from him to E, and on to B, till it turns up a head. Let us suppose that happens when F throws it up. The game is now finished, and the reckoning takes place--

B has three pitchers, D's, A's, and F's. D " two " B's and C's. F " one " E's. A, C, and E have none.

Strictly speaking, D, A, and F should each pay a button to B. B and C should each pay one to D. E should pay one to F. But in practice it was simpler, F holding one pitcher had, in the language of the game, "freed himself." D had "freed himself," and was in addition one to the good. B had "freed himself," and was two to the good. A, C, and E, not having "freed themselves," were liable for the one D had won and the two B had won, and settled with D and B, without regard to the actual hand that held the respective pitchers. It simplified the reckoning, though theoretically the reckoning should have followed the more roundabout method. Afterwards the game was begun _de novo_. E, who was last, having first pitch--the advantage of that place being meant to compensate him in a measure for his ill luck in the former game. The stakes were the plain horn or bone buttons--buttons with nicks were more valuable--a plain one being valued at two "scroggies," or "scrogs," the fancy ones, and especially livery buttons, commanding a higher price.--Rev. W. Gregor. See "Buttons."

Pit-counter

A game played by boys, who roll counters in a small hole. The exact description I have not been able to get.--Halliwell's _Dictionary_.

Pits

A game at marbles. The favourite recreation with the young fishermen in West Cornwall. Forty years ago "Pits" and "Towns" were the common games, but the latter only is now played. Boys who hit their nails are looked on with great contempt, and are said "to fire Kibby." When two are partners, and one in playing accidentally hits the other's marble, he cries out, "No custance," meaning that he has a right to put back the marble struck; should he fail to do so, he would be considered "out."--_Folk-lore Journal_, v. 60. There is no description of the method of playing. It may be the same as "Cherry Pits," played with marbles instead of cherry stones (vol. i. p. 66). Mr. Newell, _Games and Songs of American Children_, p. 187, says "The pits are thrown over the palm; they must fall so far apart that the fingers can be passed between them. Then with a fillip of the thumb the player makes his pit strike the enemy's and wins both."

Pize Ball

Sides are picked; as, for example, six on one side and six on the other, and three or four marks or tuts are fixed in a field. Six go out to field, as in cricket, and one of these throws the ball to one of those who remain "at home," and the one "at home" strikes or pizes it with his hand. After pizing it he runs to one of the "tuts," but if before he can get to the "tut" he is struck with the ball by one of those in the field, he is said to be _burnt_, or out. In that case the other side go out to field.--Addy's _Sheffield Glossary_.

See "Rounders."

Plum Pudding

A game at marbles of two or more boys. Each puts an equal number of marbles in a row close together, a mark is made at some little distance called taw; the distance is varied according to the number of marbles in a row. The first boy tosses at the row in such a way as to pitch just on the marbles, and so strike as many as he can out of the line; all that he strikes out he takes; the rest are put close together again, and two other players take their turn in the same manner, till all the marbles are struck out of the line, when they all stake afresh and the game begins again.--Baker's _Northamptonshire Glossary_.

Plum Pudding and Roast Beef

Mentioned by Moor, _Suffolk Words and Phrases_, as the name of a game. Undescribed, but nearly the same as French and English.

Pointing out a Point

A small mark is made on the wall. The one to point out the point, who must not know what is intended, is blindfolded, and is then sent to put the finger on the point or mark. Another player has taken a place in front of the point, and bites the finger of the blindfolded pointer.--Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire (Rev. W. Gregor).

Poncake

Name of a girl's game the same as Cheeses.--Holland's _Cheshire Glossary_. See "Turn Cheeses, Turn."

Poor and Rich

An old game mentioned in Taylor's _Motto_, sig. D, iv. London, 1622.

Poor Mary sits a-weeping

[Music]

[Music]

--Barnes (A. B. Gomme).

I. Poor Mary sits a-weepin', A-weepin', a-weepin'; Poor Mary sits a-weepin' On a bright summer's day.

Pray, Mary, what're you weepin' for, A-weepin' for, a-weepin' for? Pray, Mary, what're you weepin' for? On a bright summer's day.

I'm weepin' for a sweetheart, A sweetheart, a sweetheart; I'm weepin' for a sweetheart, On a bright summer's day.

Pray, Mary, choose your lover, Your lover, your lover; Pray, Mary, choose your lover On a bright summer's day.

Now you're married, I wish you joy; First a girl, and then a boy; Seven years after, son and daughter; Pray, young couple, come kiss together.

Kiss her once, kiss her twice, Kiss her three times over.

--Barnes, Surrey (A. B. Gomme).

II. Poor Mary is weeping, is weeping, is weeping, Poor Mary is weeping on a bright summer's day.

Pray tell me what you're weeping for, weeping for, weeping for, Pray tell me what you're weeping for, on a bright summer's day?