This is a pretty, interesting and instructive game, as those engaged in
it and not familiar with the period of history to which it refers may
be led to study it, and the knowledge received through playing may thus
prove beneficial.
It is particularly suited to out-of-door amusement, though it may be
played indoors by making a field of battle. This could be done by
putting a rug in the centre of a room, and stating, that rug represents
the battlefield of Saint Albans, or the battle-field of Towton, or you
may have both battles, should you so prefer.
When played out of doors, mark out a piece of lawn in the same way that
a tennis court is marked. Or, should there be no lawn, mark an oblong
on the ground by means of a sharp-pointed stick.
The battle-field should be five feet one way, and three the other.
Choose two of the largest boys for leaders; one of them will personate
Richard the Duke of York, the other the nearest relative of the house
of Lancaster, who was the Duke of Somerset.
Then in turn, commencing with the Duke of York, the boys will call
their soldiers, which may be (as this is a game) girls as well as boys.
As each one’s name is called, he stands in line on the side of his
leader. When all are chosen, the Duke of York gives his soldiers, as
also himself, the symbol of the Yorkists, which was a white rose, and
in like manner the Lancastrians receive their symbol, which was a red
one.
Commencing at the foot of the line, the Duke of York will blindfold his
soldier, and lead him around for one minute, thus confusing him as to
location; but when he stops leading him, he must be six feet from the
battlefield, and his face so turned as to make it possible to reach it.
Then the leader calls one, two, three, and at once the soldier throws
his rose. The blindfold is then removed, and he will see how near the
field his charge has reached.
It is now the turn of the house of Lancaster, and the Duke of Somerset
will blindfold the soldier at the end of his line, and thus the game
proceeds as before. When every one has played, the roses on the
battlefield are counted. Whichever side has on the most roses has won.
Then all the roses are picked up and presented to the victors by the
losing side. Each one of the winners then adorns himself with a red and
white rose.
No rose can be counted on the battlefield, unless every part of it is
on, including the stem and foliage.
There must be an even number of players.