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 mother then chased and beat those children she caught. The idea was,
I believe, that the children were imitating or mocking their mother (A.
B. G.). In Warwickshire the four lines of the Surrey game are concluded
by the additional lines—
We don’t care whether we work or no,
We’ll follow our mother on tipty-toe.
When the mother runs after them and buffets them.—Northall’s _English
Folk Rhymes_, p. 393.
Battledore and Shuttlecock
See “Shuttlefeather.”
Bedlams or Relievo
[Illustration: Fig. 1.]
[Illustration: Fig. 2.]
[Illustration: Fig. 3.]
A number of boys agree to play at this game, and sides are picked. Five,
for example, play on each side. A square is chalked out on a footpath by
the side of a road, which is called the “Den;” five of the boys remain
by the side of the Den, one of whom is called the “Tenter;” the Tenter
has charge of the Den, and he must always stand with one foot in the Den
and the other upon the road; the remaining five boys go out to field, it
being agreed beforehand that they shall only be allowed to run within a
prescribed area, or in certain roads or streets (fig. 1). As soon as the
boys who have gone out to field have reached a certain distance—there is
no limit prescribed—they shout “Relievo,” and upon this signal the four
boys standing by the side of the Den pursue them, leaving the Tenter in
charge of the Den (fig. 2). When a boy is caught he is taken to the Den,
where he is obliged to remain, unless the Tenter puts both his feet into
the Den, or takes out the one foot which he ought always to keep in the
Den. If the Tenter is thus caught tripping, the prisoner can escape from
the Den. If during the progress of the game one of the boys out at field
runs through the Den shouting “Relievo” without being caught by the
Tenter, the prisoner is allowed to escape, and join his comrades at
field. If one of the boys out at field is tired, and comes to stand by
the side of the Den, he is not allowed to put his foot into the Den. If
he does so the prisoner calls out, “There are two Tenters,” and escapes
if he can (fig. 3). When all the boys out at field have been caught and
put into the Den, the process is reversed—the boys who have been, as it
were, hunted, taking the place of the hunters. Sometimes the cry is
“Delievo,” and not “Relievo.” One or two variations occur in the playing
of this game. Sometimes the Tenter, instead of standing with one foot in
the Den, stands as far off the prisoner as the prisoner can spit. The
choosing of sides is done by tossing. Two boys are selected to toss. One
of them throws up his cap, crying, “Pot!” or “Lid!” which is equivalent
to “Heads and Tails.” If, when a prisoner is caught, he cries out
“Kings!” or “Kings to rest!” he is allowed to escape. The game is a very
rough one.—Addy’s _Sheffield Glossary_.
Beds
Jamieson gives this as the Scottish name for “Hopscotch;” also Brockett,
_North Country Words_.
Bell-horses
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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