The sport is noticed by Gay— As at hot-cockles once I laid me down, I felt the weighty hand of many a clown; Buxoma gave a gentle tap, and I Quick rose and read soft mischief in her eye. Halliwell describes it rather differently. The blindfolded boy lies down on his face, and, being struck, must guess who it is that hit him. A good part of the fun consisted in the hardness of the slaps, which were generally given on the throne of honour. He quotes from a MS. play as follows— It is edicted that every Grobian shall play at Bamberye hott cockles at the four festivals. Indeed a verye usefull sport, but lately much neglected to the mollefieinge of the flesh. —Halliwell’s _Dictionary_. [Illustration] Nares’ _Glossary_ also contains quotations from works of 1639, 1653, and 1697 which illustrate the game. Mr. Addy says “that this game as played in Sheffield is quite different from that described under the same title in Halliwell’s _Dictionary_. Aubrey (p. 30) speaks of ‘Hot Cockles’ as a game played at funerals in Yorkshire, and the lines here given show that this was the game. The lines— Where is this poor man to go? Over yond cuckoo’s hill I O, embodies the popular belief that the soul winged its way like a bird, and they remind one of the passing of the soul over Whinny Moor (see funeral dirge in Aubrey’s _Remains of Gentilisme_, p. 31). Grimm mentions the cuckoo hill (Gauchsberg). He says, ‘Originally in Gauchsberg the bird himself may very well have been meant in a mystic sense which has fallen dark to us now’ (_Teut. Myth._, ii. 681). We know, too, the old belief that the cuckoo tells children how many years they have to live. These lines are also sometimes said, in addition to those given above— Elder belder, limber lock, Three wives in a clock; Sit and sing, and call a spring, O-u-t spells out. The boy who bends down is supposed to be undergoing a great penalty.” Strutt (_Sports_, p. 394) describes this game, and gives an illustration which is here reproduced from the original MSS. in the Bodleian. This game may have originated from a custom at funerals of practising spells for the safe and speedy passage of the departing spirit to its destination, or from divination mysteries to foretell who would be the next among the mourners to follow the dead body to the grave. The spirit of prophecy was believed to exist in a dying person. See “Handy Croopen.” How many Miles to Babylon I. King and Queen of Cantelon, How many miles to Babylon? Eight and eight and other eight. Will I get there by candle-light? If your horse be good and your spurs be bright. How mony men have ye? Mae nae ye daur come and see. —Chambers’ _Popular Rhymes_, p. 124; Mactaggart’s _Gallovidian Encyclopædia_.