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
Two big boys take two smaller ones on their shoulders. The big boys act
as horses, while the younger ones seated on their shoulders try to pull
each other over. The “horses” may push and strike each other with their
shoulders, but must not kick or trip up with their feet, or use their
hands or elbows. The game is usually won by the Horse and Knight who
throw their opponents twice out of three times (G. L. Gomme). Strutt
(_Sports_, p. 84) describes this, and says, “A sport of this kind was in
practice with us at the commencement of the fourteenth century.” He
considers it to bear more analogy to wrestling than to any other sport.
He gives illustrations, one of which is here reproduced from the
original MS. in the British Museum. The game is also described in the
Rev. J. G. Wood’s _Modern Playmate_, p. 12.
[Illustration]
Knocked at the Rapper
The girl who spoke of this game, says Miss Peacock, could only remember
its details imperfectly, but as far as she recollects it is played as
follows:—The players dance round a centre child, leaving one of their
number outside the circle. The dancers sing to the one in their midst—
Here comes ——,
He knocked at the rapper, and he pulled at the string,
Pray, Mrs. ——, is —— within?
At “is —— within,” the child outside the circle is named. The centre
child says—
O no, she has gone into the town:
Pray take the arm-chair and sit yourself down.
The ring of children then sing—
O no, not until my dearest I see,
And then one chair will do for we.
Then all sing—
My elbow, my elbow,
My pitcher, and my can:
Isn’t —— —— a nice young girl?
Mentioning the supposed sweetheart.
Isn’t —— —— as nice as she?
Mentioning the outside child.
They shall be married when they can agree.
Then the inside and outside children each choose a companion from the
circle, and the rest repeat:—
My elbow, my elbow, &c.
When the words have been sung a second time, the four children kiss, and
the two from the circle take the places of the other, after which change
the game begins again.—North Kelsey, Lincolnshire (Miss M. Peacock).
Knor and Spell
See “Nur and Spell.”
Lab
A game of marbles (undescribed).—Patterson’s _Antrim and Down Glossary_.
See “Lag.”
Lady of the Land
[Music]
—Tong, Shropshire (Miss R. Harley).
I. Here comes the lady of the land,
With sons and daughters in her hand;
Pray, do you want a servant to-day?
What can she do?
She can brew, she can bake,
She can make a wedding cake
Fit for you or any lady in the land.
Pray leave her.
I leave my daughter safe and sound,
And in her pocket a thousand pound,
And on her finger a gay ring,
And I hope to find her so again.
—_Somerset and Dorset Notes and Queries_, i. 133.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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