The players place themselves each in some "coign of vantage,_The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland (Vol 2 of 2) With Tunes, Singing-Rhymes, and Methods of Playing etc.

play place allows; one player in the middle is "out." Those in the

corners change places with each other at choice, calling, "Puss, puss,

puss," to attract each other's attention. The one who is out watches his

opportunity to slip into a vacant corner, and oblige some one else to be

"out." A favourite game _in the streets_ of Market Drayton.--Burne's

_Shropshire Folk-lore_, p. 523.

When we played this game, the child who was to be "Puss" was invariably

decided upon by a counting-out rhyme. He or she being the last of the

five players "not he." The words we used when wishful to change corners

were, "Puss, puss, give me a drop of milk." The players in the corners

beckoned with the finger to an opposite player in another corner (A. B.

Gomme).

The game in Scotland is called "Moosie in the Corner," and is played by

boys or girls, or by both together, either outside or in a room. Each

player takes a corner, and one stands in the middle. On a given signal,

usually by calling out the word "Change," a rush is made from the

corners. The aim of the one standing in the middle is to reach a vacant

corner. If the game is played in a room, as many chairs, or other seats,

are placed as there are players, less one. Each takes a seat, and one is

left standing. On the word "Change" being called out, each jumps from

the seat and makes for another. The one standing strives to get a seat

in the course of the change.--Nairn and Macduff (Rev. W. Gregor).

Pussy's Ground

Name for Tom Tiddler's Ground in Norfolk.

See "Tom Tiddler's Ground."

Pyramid

A circle of about two feet in diameter is made on the ground, in the

centre of which a pyramid is formed by several marbles. Nine are placed

as the base, then six, then four, and then one on the top. The keeper of

the pyramid then desires the other players to shoot. Each player gives

the keeper one marble for leave to shoot at the pyramid, and all that

the players can strike out of the circle belong to them.--London streets

(A. B. Gomme), and _Book of Sports_.

See "Castles."

Quaker

Men and women stand alternately in a circle, and one man begins by

placing his left hand on his left knee, and saying, "There was an old

Quaker and he went so." This is repeated all round the circle; the first

man then says the same thing again, but this time he places his _right_

hand on his _right_ knee. Then he places his hand on the girl's

shoulder, then round her neck, and on her far shoulder, then looks into

her face, and, lastly, kisses her.--Sharleston, Yorks (Miss Fowler).

Quaker's Wedding

Hast thou ever been to a Quaker's wedding?

Nay, friend, nay.

Do as I do; twiddle thy thumbs and follow me.

The leader walks round chanting these lines, with her eyes fixed on the

ground. Each new comer goes behind till a long train is formed, then

they kneel side by side as close together as possible. The leader then

gives a vigorous push to the one at the end of the line [next herself,

and that one to the next], and the whole line tumble over.--Berkshire

(Miss Thoyts in the _Antiquary_, xxvii. 194).

See "Obadiah," "Solomon."

Queen Anne

I. Lady Queen Ann she sits in her stand,

And a pair of green gloves upon her hand,

As white as a lily, as fair as a swan,

The fairest lady in a' the land;

Come smell my lily, come smell my rose,

Which of my maidens do you choose?

I choose you one, and I choose you all,

And I pray, Miss ( ), yield up the ball.

The ball is mine, and none of yours,

Go to the woods and gather flowers.

Cats and kittens bide within,

But we young ladies walk out and in.

--Chambers' _Pop. Rhymes_, p. 136.

II. Queen Anne, Queen Anne, who sits on her throne,

As fair as a lily, as white as a swan;

The king sends you three letters,

And begs you'll read one.

I cannot read one unless I read all,

So pray ( ) deliver the ball.

The ball is mine and none of thine,

So you, proud Queen, may sit on your throne,

While we, your messengers, go and come.

(Or sometimes)--

The ball is mine, and none of thine,

You are the fair lady to sit on;

And we're the black gipsies to go and come.

--Halliwell's _Pop. Rhymes_, p. 230.

III. Queen Anne, Queen Anne, you sit in the sun,

As fair as a lily, as white as a wand,

I send you three letters, and pray read one.

You must read one, if you can't read all,

So pray, Miss or Master, throw up the ball.

--Halliwell's _Pop. Rhymes_, p. 64.

IV. Here we come a-piping,

First in spring and then in May.

The Queen she sits upon the sand,

Fair as a lily, white as a wand:

King John has sent you letters three,

And begs you'll read them unto me.

We can't read one without them all,

So pray, Miss Bridget, deliver the ball.

--Halliwell's _Pop. Rhymes_, p. 73.

V. Queen Anne, Queen Anne,

She sot in the sun;

So fair as a lily,

So white as a nun;

She had a white glove on,

She drew it off, she drew it on.

Turn, ladies, turn.

The more we turn, the more we may,

Queen Anne was born on Midsummer Day;

We have brought dree letters from the Queen,

Wone of these only by thee must be seen.

We can't rëade wone, we must rëade all,

Please ( ) deliver the ball.

--Dorsetshire (_Folk-lore Journal_, vii. 229).

VI. Here come we to Lady Queen Anne,

With a pair of white gloves to cover our hand;

As white as a lily, as fair as the rose,

But not so fair as you may suppose.

Turn, ladies, turn.

The more we turn the more we may,

Queen Anne was born on Midsummer Day.

The king sent me three letters, I never read them all,

So pray, Miss ----, deliver the ball.

The ball is yours, and not ours,

You must go to the garden and gather the flowers.

The ball is ours, and not yours,

We go out and gather the flowers.

--Cornwall (_Folk-lore Journal_, v. 52-53).

VII. Queen Anne, Queen Anne, she sits in the sun,

As fair as a lily, so white and wan;

A pair of kid gloves she holds in her hand,

There's no such a lady in all the fair land.

Turn all.

The more we turn the better we are,

For we've got the ball between us.

--North Kelsey, Lincolnshire (Miss M. Peacock).

VIII. Lady Queen Anne she sits on a stand [sedan],

She is fair as a lily, she is white as a swan;

A pair of green gloves all over her hand,

She is the fairest lady in all the land.

Come taste my lily, come smell my rose,

Which of my babes do you choose?

I choose not one, but I choose them all,

So please, Miss Nell, give up the ball.

The ball is ours, it is not yours,

We will go to the woods and gather flowers;

We will get pins to pin our clothes,

You will get nails to nail your toes.

--Belfast (W. H. Patterson).

IX. Queen Anne, Queen Anne, she sits in the sun,

As fair as a lily, as brown as a bun;

We've brought you three letters, pray can you read one?

I can't read one without I read all,

So pray ---- deliver the ball.

You old gipsy, sit in the sun,

And we fair ladies go and come;

The ball is mine, and none o' thine,

And so good-morning, Valentine.

--Swaffham. Norfolk (Miss Matthews).

X. Queen Anne, Queen Anne, she sits in the sun,

As fair as a lily, as brown as a bun.

Turn, fair ladies, turn.

We bring you three letters, and pray you read one.

I cannot read one without I read all,

So please ( ) give up the ball.

[If the wrong guess is made the girls say--]

The ball is ours, and none of yours,

And we've the right to keep it.

[If the right child is named, they say--]

The ball is yours, and is not ours,

And you've the right to take it.

[Some of the children said this rhyme should be--]

The ball is ours, and none of yours,

So you, black gipsies, sit in the sun,

While we the fair ladies go as we come.

--London (A. B. Gomme).

XI. Queen Anne, Queen Anne, she sits in the sun,

As fair as a lily, as white as a swan;

I bring you three letters, so pray you choose one,

I cannot read one without I read all,

So pray ---- give up the ball.

[If the wrong girl is asked, they say--]

The ball is ours, it is not yours,

And we've the right to keep it.

[When the right one is guessed--]

The ball is yours, it is not ours,

And you've the right to keep it.

--Barnes, Surrey (A. B. Gomme).

XII. The lady Queen Anne she sat in a tan (sedan),

As fair as a lily, as white as a swan;

The Queen of Morocco she sent you a letter,

So please to read one.

I won't read one except them all,

So please, Miss ----, deliver the ball.

--Hersham, Surrey (_Folk-lore Record_, v. 87).

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:--

+---+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+

+---+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+

| 1.| -- | -- | -- |

| 2.| -- | -- | -- |

| 4.| -- | -- | -- |

| 5.|Sits in her stand. | -- | -- |

| 6.| -- |Sits on her throne. | -- |

| 7.| -- | -- |Sits in the sun. |

| 8.|Pair of green gloves | -- | -- |

| 9.|White as a lily, fair |Fair as lily, white as| -- |

|10.| -- | -- |Fair as lily, white as|

|11.|Fairest lady in the | -- | -- |

|12.| -- | -- | -- |

|13.|Smell my lily, smell | -- | -- |

|14.|Which of my maidens do| -- | -- |

|15.| -- | -- | -- |

|16.| -- | -- | -- |

|17.| -- | -- | -- |

|18.| -- |King sends three |I send you three |

|19.| -- |Begs you'll read one. |Pray read one. |

|20.| -- | -- | -- |

|22.| -- | -- | -- |

|24.| -- | -- | -- |

|25.|The ball is mine, and |The ball is mine, and | -- |

|26.| -- |You, proud Queen, may | -- |

|27.| -- |While we, your | -- |

|28.|Go to the woods and | -- | -- |

|29.| -- | -- | -- |

|30.| -- |The ball is mine, and | -- |

|31.| -- |You are the fair lady | -- |

|32.| -- |And we're black gip- | -- |

|33.| -- | -- | -- |

|34.| -- | -- | -- |

|35.|Cats and kittens, bide| -- | -- |

|36.|We young ladies walk | -- | -- |

|37.| -- | -- | -- |

|38.| -- | -- | -- |

|39.| -- | -- | -- |

+---+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+

+---+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+

| 1.|Here we come a-piping.| -- | -- |

| 2.|First in Spring, then | -- | -- |

| 3.| -- |Queen Anne. |Lady Queen Anne. |

| 4.|Queen. | -- | -- |

| 5.|Sits upon the sand. | -- | -- |

| 6.| -- | -- | -- |

| 7.| -- |Sot in the sun. | -- |

| 8.| -- |White glove on. |Pair of white gloves |

| 9.| -- | -- |White as lily, fair as|

|10.|Fair as lily, white as|Fair as lily, white as| -- |

| |wand. |nun. | |

|11.| -- | -- | -- |

|12.| -- | -- |Not so fair as you may|

|13.| -- | -- | -- |

|14.| -- | -- | -- |

|15.| -- |Turn, ladies. |Turn, ladies. |

|16.| -- |More we turn, more we |More we turn, more we |

| | |may. |may. |

|17.| -- |Queen Anne was born on|Q. Anne was born on |

|19.|Begs you'll read them | -- | -- |

|20.| -- |One of these only by | -- |

|21.|We can't read one |We can't read one, | -- |

|22.| -- | -- |I never read them all.|

|24.| -- | -- | -- |

|25.| -- | -- |The ball is yours, and|

|26.| -- | -- | -- |

|27.| -- | -- | -- |

|28.| -- | -- |Go to the garden and |

|29.| -- | -- | -- |

|30.| -- | -- |The ball is ours, and |

|31.| -- | -- | -- |

|32.| -- | -- | -- |

|33.| -- | -- |We must go to the |

|34.| -- | -- | -- |

|35.| -- | -- | -- |

|36.| -- | -- | -- |

|37.| -- | -- | -- |

|38.| -- | -- | -- |

|39.| -- | -- | -- |

+---+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+

+---+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+

| 1.| -- | -- | -- |

| 2.| -- | -- | -- |

| 4.| -- | -- | -- |

| 5.| -- |Sits on a stand. | -- |

| 6.| -- | -- | -- |

| 7.|Sits in the sun. | -- |Sits in the sun. |

| 8.|Pair of kid gloves in |Pair of green gloves | -- |

| 9.| -- |Fair as lily, white as| -- |

|10.|Fair as lily, white | -- |Fair as lily, brown as|

| |and wan. | |bun. |

|11.|No such lady in the |Fairest lady in the | -- |

|12.| -- | -- | -- |

|13.| -- |Taste my lily, smell | -- |

|14.| -- |Which of my babes do | -- |

|15.|Turn all. | -- | -- |

|16.|More we turn, better | -- | -- |

|17.| -- | -- | -- |

|18.| -- | -- |We've brought three |

|19.| -- | -- |Pray can you read one.|

|20.| -- | -- | -- |

|21.| -- |Choose not one but | -- |

|22.| -- | -- | -- |

|23.| -- |Please, Miss Nell, |Pray deliver the ball.|

|24.|We've got the ball | -- | -- |

|25.| -- | -- |You, old gipsy sit in |

|26.| -- | -- |We fair ladies, go and|

|27.| -- |The ball is ours, it |The ball is mine, and |

|28.| -- |We'll go to the woods | -- |

|29.| -- | -- | -- |

|30.| -- | -- | -- |

|31.| -- | -- | -- |

|32.| -- | -- | -- |

|33.| -- | -- | -- |

|34.| -- | -- | -- |

|35.| -- | -- | -- |

|36.| -- | -- | -- |

|37.| -- |We will get pins to | -- |

|38.| -- |You will get nails to | -- |

|39.| -- | -- |So good morning |

+---+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+

+---+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+

| 1.| -- | -- | -- |

| 2.| -- | -- | -- |

| 4.| -- | -- | -- |

| 5.| -- | -- |Sits in a tan. |

| 6.| -- | -- | -- |

| 7.|Sits in the sun. |Sits in the sun. | -- |

| 8.| -- | -- | -- |

| 9.| -- |Fair as lily, white as|Fair as lily, white as|

|10.|Fair as lily, brown as| -- | -- |

| |bun. | | |

|11.| -- | -- | -- |

|12.| -- | -- | -- |

|13.| -- | -- | -- |

|14.| -- | -- | -- |

|15.| -- | -- | -- |

|16.| -- | -- | -- |

|17.| -- | -- | -- |

|20.| -- | -- | -- |

|22.| -- | -- | -- |

|24.| -- | -- | -- |

|25.| -- | -- | -- |

|26.| -- | -- | -- |

|27.|The ball is ours, and |The ball is ours, it | -- |

|28.| -- | -- | -- |

|29.|And we've the right to|And we've the right to| -- |

|30.|The ball is yours, and|The ball is yours, it | -- |

|31.|You, black gipsies, | -- | -- |

|32.|While we, fair ladies,| -- | -- |

|33.| -- | -- | -- |

|34.| -- |And you've the right | -- |

|35.| -- | -- | -- |

|36.| -- | -- | -- |

|37.| -- | -- | -- |

|38.| -- | -- | -- |

|39.| -- | -- | -- |

+---+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+

+---+----------------------+----------------------+

|No.| Sussex. | Devon. |

+---+----------------------+----------------------+

| 1.| -- | -- |

| 2.| -- | -- |

| 3.|Queen Ann. |Queen Ann. |

| 4.| -- | -- |

| 5.| -- | -- |

| 6.| -- | -- |

| 7.|Sits in the sun. |Sat in the sun. |

| 8.| -- |Pair of white gloves |

| | |to cover her hand. |

| 9.| -- |White as lily, red as |

| | |rose. |

|10.|Fair as lily, bright | -- |

| |as one. | |

|11.| -- | -- |

|12.| -- | -- |

|13.| -- | -- |

|14.| -- |To which young lady do|

| | |you propose? |

|15.| -- | -- |

|16.| -- | -- |

|17.| -- | -- |

|18.|King Geo. has sent you| -- |

| |three letters. | |

|19.|Desires you to read | -- |

| |one. | |

|20.| -- | -- |

|21.|Cannot read one | -- |

| |without all. | |

|22.| -- | -- |

|23.|Pray, Miss [ ], | -- |

| |deliver the ball. | |

|24.| -- | -- |

|25.|So, black gipsies, sit| -- |

| |in the sun. | |

|26.|We fair ladies, go as | -- |

| |we come. | |

|27.|The ball is ours, and | -- |

| |none of yours. | |

|28.| -- | -- |

|29.| -- | -- |

|30.| -- | -- |

|31.| -- | -- |

|32.| -- | -- |

|33.| -- | -- |

|34.| -- | -- |

|35.| -- | -- |

|36.| -- | -- |

|37.| -- | -- |

|38.| -- | -- |

|39.| -- | -- |

+---+----------------------+----------------------+

This game appears to be in such a state of decadence that it is

difficult to do more than suggest an origin. It may be that "Queen Anne"

represents an oracle, and the petition is addressed to her to discover

the stolen treasure; but more probably the players represent disguised

damsels, one of whom is a bride whose identity has to be found out by

her showing or possessing some object which belongs to or has been given

previously by her suitor. The "guessing" or "naming" a particular person

runs through all the versions, and is undoubtedly the clue to the game.

If the Belfast version is the nearest to the original of those at

present existing, and there is every probability that this is so,

especially as Chambers' version is so similar, an early form of the game

might be restored, and from this its origin may be ascertained. Using

the first four lines of one of Halliwell's versions, and what appear to

be the common lines of the other versions, the reading is--

_Suitor and Friends._

Here we come a-piping,

First in Spring and then in May.

The Queen she sits upon the sand,

Fair as a lily, white as a wand [swan].

Here's a pair of {white} gloves to cover the hands [suitors offer

{green} gloves],

Of the fairest lady in all the land.

_Guardian (or Mother) and Maidens._

Come {taste} my lily, come {taste} my rose,

{smell} {smell}

For which of my maidens do you propose?

_Suitors or Queen Anne._

I chose but one, I chose from all,

I pray, Miss ( ), receive the ball [throwing ball to one girl,

who catches it].

Or--

I pray this hand receive the ball, [putting a ball into the extended

hands of one of three girls.]

Guardian then disguises three girls (one with the ball) with veils or

other coverings, so that they precisely resemble each other, and returns

with the girls to the suitors, saying to the girls--

Turn, ladies, turn; turn, ladies, turn;

and to the suitors--

Come choose your own, come choose from all.

I've brought you three letters, pray can you read one?

_Suitor_

(touching one of the disguised girls).

I cannot read one without I read all.

I pray, Miss ( ), yield up the ball.

_Disguised Maiden_

(one who did not receive the ball).

The ball is mine, and none of thine,

And so, good morning, Valentine.

_Chorus of Maidens_ (curtseying).

We will go to the wood and gather flowers,

We will get pins to pin our clothes,

You will get nails to nail your toes.

Cats and kittens bide within,

But we, young maidens, come out and in.

The inference being that the chosen maiden is still free until the

suitor can try again, and is fortunate enough to indicate the right

maiden.

If this conjectural restoration of the verses be accepted on the

evidence, it would suggest that this game originated from one of the not

uncommon customs practised at weddings or betrothals--when the suitor

has to discriminate between several girls all dressed precisely alike

and distinguish his bride by some token. (See "King William.") This

incident of actual primitive custom also obtains in folk tales, thus

showing its strong hold upon popular tradition, and hence increasing the

probability that it would reappear in games. It must be remembered that

the giving of gloves was a significant fact in betrothals.

This game is said by some to have its origin in the use of the sedan

chair. A version taken from a newspaper cutting (unfortunately I had not

recorded the name and date, but think it was probably the _Leeds

Mercury_ some years ago) gives the following rhyme. The writer does not

say whether he knows it as a game--

Lady Lucan she sits in a sedan,

As fair as a lily, as white as a swan;

A pair of green gloves to doff and to don.

My mistress desires you will read one,

I can't read one without them all,

So I pray this hand decline the ball.

In this version there is still the puzzle to solve, or riddle to read.

Queen Mary

[Music: Verses 1, 2.]

[Music: Verses 3, 4, 5.]

--Hexham (Miss J. Barker).

I. Queen Mary, Queen Mary, my age is sixteen,

My father's a farmer on yonder green;

He has plenty of money to dress me in silk--

Come away, my sweet laddie, and take me a walk.

One morning I rose and I looked in the glass,

I thought to myself what a handsome young lass;

My hands by my side, and a gentle ha, ha,

Come away, my sweet lassie, and take me a walk.

Father, mother, may I go, may I go, may I go;

Father, mother, may I go, to buy a bunch of roses?

Oh yes, you may go, you may go, you may go;

Oh yes, you may go, buy a bunch of roses!

Pick up her tail and away she goes, away she goes, away

she goes;

Pick up her tail and away she goes, to buy a bunch of

roses.

--Sang by the children of Hexham Workhouse (Miss J. Barker).

II. Queen Mary, Queen Mary, my age is sixteen,

My father's a farmer on yonder green;

He has plenty of money to keep me sae braw,

Yet nae bonnie laddie will tak' me awa'.

The morning so early I looked in the glass,

And I said to myself what a handsome young lass;

My hands by my side, and I gave a ha, ha,

Come awa', bonnie laddie, and tak' me awa'.

--Berwickshire, A. M. Bell, _Antiquary_, xxx. 17.

The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland (Vol 2 of 2) With Tunes, Singing-Rhymes, and Methods of Playing etc. · 第 6 / 36 段

The players place themselves each in some "coign of vantage," as the