The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland (Vol 2 of 2): With Tunes, Singing-Rhymes, and Methods of Playing etc.Gomme, Alice Bertha
General
The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland (Vol 2 of 2): With Tunes, Singing-Rhymes, and Methods of Playing etc.
Gomme, Alice Bertha
Folklore -- Great Britain; Games -- Great Britain
XIII. Queen Ann, Queen Ann,
She sits in the sun,
As fair as a lily, and bright as one;
King George has sent you three letters,
And desires you to read one.
I cannot read one
Without I read all,
So pray, Miss ( ),
Deliver the ball.
[Rhyme when right is seldom in use, and the one when wrong forgotten.]
The ball is ours, and none of yours,
So, black gipsies, sit in the sun,
And we, fair ladies, go as we come.
—Sussex, about 1850 (Miss Chase).
XIV. Queen Ann, Queen Ann,
She sat in the sun;
A pair of white gloves to cover her hands,
As white as a lily, as red as a rose,
To which young lady do you propose?
—Devon (Miss Chase).
XV. Here come seven sisters,
And seven milken daughters,
And with the ladies of the land,
And please will you grant us.
I grant you once, I grant you twice,
I grant you three times over;
A for all, and B for ball,
And please [ ] deliver the ball.
—Bocking, Essex (_Folk-lore Journal_, vi. 211).
[Illustration]
(_b_) Sides are chosen, and two lines are formed; the words are said by
each line alternately. One line, in which is the Queen, standing still
or sitting down, the other line advancing and retiring while singing the
words. The latter line gives one of their number a ball or some other
small object to hold in the hand in such a manner that it cannot be
perceived. All the players on this side then assume the same
position—either all put their hands behind them or fold their arms, put
their hands under their armpits, or under their skirts or pinafores. The
object of the other side is to guess which child in the line has the
ball. The line which has the ball commences the game by advancing
singing or saying the first three or four lines. Queen Anne answers, and
then names one of the girls on the opposite side whom she suspects to
have the ball, and if she be right in her guess the lines change sides.
If she be wrong, the line retires in triumph, the girl who possesses the
ball holding it up to show the Queen she is wrong. The children all
curtsey when leaving the Queen’s presence. Another girl of the line then
takes the ball and the game continues till the right holder of the ball
is named. When the Queen tells the line of players to “turn,” they all
spin round, coming back to face the Queen, and then stand still again.
In the North Kelsey version (Miss Peacock) there is only one player on
Queen Anne’s side, the rest form the line. This is also the case with
the Cornish game.
(_c_) The analysis of the game-rhymes is as follows:—
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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