waters of the sacred well or the blaze of the festival fire help the growth of the crops; they also help women in their desire for a lover and for motherhood. And it may be taken for granted that the summer festivals knew from the beginning that element of sexual licence which fourteen centuries of Christianity have not wholly been able to banish[483]. CHAPTER VII FESTIVAL PLAY [_Bibliographical Note._--A systematic revision of J. Strutt, _The Sports and Pastimes of the People of England_ (1801, ed. W. Hone, 1830), is, as in the case of Brand’s book, much needed. On the psychology of play should be consulted K. Groos, _Die Spiele der Thiere_ (1896, transl. 1898), and _Die Spiele der Menschen_ (1899, transl. 1901). Various anthropological aspects of play are discussed by A. C. Haddon, _The Study of Man_ (1898), and the elaborate dictionary of _The Traditional Games of England, Scotland and Ireland_ by Mrs. A. B. Gomme (1894-8) may be supplemented from W. W. Newell, _Games and Songs of American Children_ (1884), H. C. Bolton, _The Counting-Out Rhymes of Children_ (1888), E. W. B. Nicholson, _Golspie_ (1897), and R. C. Maclagan, _The Games and Diversions of Argyleshire_ (F.L.S. 1901). The _charivari_ is treated by C. R. B. Barrett, _Riding Skimmington and Riding the Stang_ in the _Journal of the British Archaeological Association_, N. S. i. 58, and C. Noirot, _L’Origine des Masques_ (1609), reprinted with illustrative matter by C. Leber, _Dissertations relatives à l’Histoire de France_, vol. ix. The account of the Coventry Hox Tuesday Play given in _Robert Laneham’s Letter_ (1575) will be found in Appendix H.]