The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland (Vol 1 of 2): With Tunes, Singing-Rhymes and Methods of Playing etc.Gomme, Alice Bertha
History
The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland (Vol 1 of 2): With Tunes, Singing-Rhymes and Methods of Playing etc.
Gomme, Alice Bertha
Folklore -- Great Britain; Games -- Great Britain
The game as given above is obviously incomplete, and no description as
to how the game was played was sent me. Newell (_Games_, p. 145),
describes a game, “The Cardinal’s Hat,” which is probably a variant of
the original game, of which the above is only a fragment. I remember
once witnessing a game in which a ball was passed from player to player,
and in which the dialogue was similar. When one player was told that the
ball was in his possession, the answer was, “What, me, sir?” “Yes, you,
sir.” “Not I, sir.” “Who then, sir?” “White Cap, sir;” the questions and
answers were again repeated for Red Cap, and Blue Cap. When it was Black
Cap’s turn, I think the ball was thrown by this player to some one else;
whoever was hit by the ball had to chase and capture one, who became
questioner; but my recollection of the game is too slight for me to be
certain either of the dialogue or the way the game terminated (A. B.
Gomme). A game described in _Suffolk County Folk-lore_, p. 62, is
apparently a version of this. It is there described as a forfeit game.
King William
[Music]
—Earls Heaton, Yorks. (H. Hardy).
I. King William was King David’s son,
And all the royal race is run;
Choose from the east, choose from the west,
Choose the one you love the best.
Down on this carpet you shall kneel
While the grass grows in yonder field;
Salute your bride and kiss her sweet,
Rise again upon your feet.
—Hanging Heaton, Yorks. (H. Hardy).
II. King William was King David’s son,
All the royal race is run;
Choose from the east, choose from the west,
Choose the one that you love best;
If she’s not here to take her part,
Choose another with all your heart.
—Sheffield (S. O. Addy).
(_b_) In Sheffield a ring of young men and women is formed. A man goes
inside the ring and walks round within it, whilst the others sing the
verse. The young man then chooses a sweetheart, and the two walk round
arm-in-arm within the ring, whilst the same verses are sung. When the
singing is ended, the girl picks a young man, and so they all pair off.
(_c_) Mr. Addy entitles this game “Kiss in the Ring.” It appears,
however, from this description to lack the two principal elements of
most “kiss-in-the-ring” games—the chase between pursued and pursuer, and
the kissing in the ring when the capture is made. In the Hanging Heaton
version two children kneel and kiss in the middle of the ring. Mr.
Newell (_Games_, p. 73), in describing a game with a similar rhyme,
mentions a version which had been sent him from Waterford, Ireland. He
says, “We learn from an informant that in her town it was formerly
played in this peculiar manner. Over the head of a girl who stood in the
centre of a ring was held a shawl, sustained by four others grasping the
corners.” The game then proceeded as follows—
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account