on the ground, near a wall. The other boys snap their buttons in turn
against the wall. If the button drops within one span or hand-reach of
the button laid down, it counts two (fig. 2); if within two spans, it
counts one. When it hits the button and bounces within one span, it
counts four (fig. 1); within two spans, three; and above three spans,
one. Each player snaps in turn for an agreed number; the first to score
this number wins the game.--Deptford, Kent, and generally in London
streets (Miss Chase).
[Illustration: Fig. 1.]
[Illustration: Fig. 2.]
This game is known in America as "Spans."--Newell, p. 188.
Bar
To play at "Bar," a species of game anciently used in
Scotland.--Jamieson.
This game had in ancient times in England been simply denominated
"Bars," or, as in an Act of James IV., 1491, edit. 1814, p. 227: "That
na induellare within burgh . . . play at bar," "playing at Bars."
See "Prisoner's Base."
Barbarie, King of the
I. O will you surrender, O will you surrender
To the King of the Barbarie?
We won't surrender, we won't surrender
To the King of the Barbarie.
I'll go and complaint, I'll go and complaint
To the King of the Barbarie.
You can go and complaint, you can go and complaint
To the King of the Barbarie.
Good morning, young Prince, good morning, young Prince,
I have a complaint for you.
What is your complaint?
What is your complaint?
They won't surrender, they won't surrender
To the King of the Barbarie.
Take one of my brave soldiers,
Take one of my brave soldiers.
--Deptford, Kent (Miss Chase).
II. Will you surrender, will you surrender
To the King of the Barbarines?
We won't surrender, we won't surrender
To the King of the Barbarines.
We'll make you surrender, we'll make you surrender
To the King of the Barbarines.
You can't make us surrender, you can't make us surrender
To the King of the Barbarines.
We'll go to the King, we'll go to the King,
To the King of the Barbarines.
You can go to the King, you can go to the King,
To the King of the Barbarines.
--Clapham, Surrey (Miss F. D. Richardson).
III. Will you surrender, will you surrender
The Tower of Barbaree?
We won't surrender, we won't surrender
The Tower of Barbaree.
We will go and tell the Queen,
Go and tell the Queen of Barbaree.
Don't care for the Queen, don't care for the Queen,
The Queen of Barbaree.
Good morning, young Queen, good morning, young Queen,
I have a complaint to thee.
Pray what is your complaint to me?
They won't surrender, they won't surrender
The Tower of Barbaree.
Take one of my brave soldiers.
--Lady Camilla Gurdon's _Suffolk County Folk-lore_, p. 63.
IV. You must surrend' me, you must surrend' me
To the Queen of Barbaloo.
No, we'll not surrend' you, no, we'll not surrend' you
To the Queen of Barbaloo.
We'll complain, we'll complain, &c.
[To the Queen of Barbaloo.]
You can complain, you can complain, &c.
[To the Queen of Barbaloo.]
--Penzance (Mrs. Mabbott).
(_b_) Two children stand together joining hands tightly, to personate a
fortress; one child stands at a distance from these to personate the
King of Barbarie, with other children standing behind to personate the
soldiers (fig. 1). Some of the soldiers go to the fortress and surround
it, singing the first verse (fig. 2). The children in the fortress
reply, the four first verses being thus sung alternately. The soldiers
then go to the King singing the fifth verse (fig. 3), the remaining
verses being thus sung alternately. One of the soldiers then goes to the
fortress and endeavours by throwing herself on the clasped hands of the
children forming the fortress to break down the guard (fig. 4). All the
soldiers try to do this, one after the other; finally the King comes,
who breaks down the guard. The whole troop of soldiers then burst
through the parted arms (fig. 5).
[Illustration: Fig. 1.]
[Illustration: Fig. 2.]
[Illustration: Fig. 3.]
[Illustration: Fig. 4.]
[Illustration: Fig. 5.]
This is the Deptford version. The Clapham version is almost identical;
the children take hold of each others' skirts and make a long line. If
the brave soldier is not able to break the clasped hands he goes to the
end of the line of soldiers. The soldiers do not surround the fortress.
In the Suffolk version the soldiers try to break through the girls'
hands. If they do they have the tower. The Cornwall version is not so
completely an illustration of the capture of a fortress.
Barley-break
[Illustration: Fig. 1.]
[Illustration: Fig. 2.]
[Illustration: Fig. 3.]
Barley-break, or the Last Couple in Hell, was a game played by six
people, three of each sex, who were coupled by lot. A piece of ground
was then chosen, and divided into three compartments, of which the
middle one was called Hell. It was the object of the couple condemned to
this division to catch the others who advanced from the two extremities
(figs. 1, 2), in which case a change of situation took place, and Hell
was filled by the couple who were excluded by pre-occupation from the
other place (fig. 3). In this catching, however, there was some
difficulty, as by the regulations of the game the middle couple were not
to separate before they had succeeded, while the others might break
hands whenever they found themselves hard pressed. When all had been
taken in turn, the last couple was said to be "in Hell," and the game
ended.--Dekker's _Works_, iv. 434.
Jamieson calls this "a game generally played by young people in a
corn-yard. Hence called _barla-bracks about the stacks_, S. B." (_i.
e._, in the North of Scotland). "One stack is fixed on as the _dule_ or
goal; and one person is appointed to catch the rest of the company, who
run out from the _dule_. He does not leave it till they are all out of
sight. Then he sets off to catch them. Any one who is taken cannot run
out again with his former associates, being accounted a prisoner; but is
obliged to assist his captor in pursuing the rest. When all are taken
the game is finished; and he who was first taken is bound to act as
catcher in the next game. This innocent sport seems to be almost
entirely forgotten in the South of Scotland. It is also falling into
desuetude in the North."
(_b_) The following description of Barley-break, written by Sir Philip
Sidney, is taken from the song of Lamon, in the first volume of the
_Arcadia_, where he relates the passion of Claius and Strephon for the
beautiful Urania:--
She went abroad, thereby,
At _barley-brake_ her sweet, swift foot to try. . . .
Afield they go, where many lookers be.
Then couples three be straight allotted there,
They of both ends, the middle two, do fly;
The two that in mid-place Hell called were
Must strive, with waiting foot and watching eye,
To catch of them, and them to hell to bear,
That they, as well as they, may hell supply;
Like some that seek to salve their blotted name
Will others blot, till all do taste of shame.
There may you see, soon as the middle two
Do, coupled, towards either couple make,
They, false and fearful, do their hands undo;
Brother his brother, friend doth friend forsake,
Heeding himself, cares not how fellow do,
But of a stranger mutual help doth take;
As perjured cowards in adversity,
With sight of fear, from friends to friends do fly.
Sir John Suckling also has given a description of this pastime with
allegorical personages, which is quoted by Brand. In Holiday's play of
the _Marriages of the Arts_, 1618, this sport is introduced, and also by
Herrick (_Hesperides_, p. 44). Barley-break is several times alluded to
in Massinger's plays: see the _Dramatic Works of Philip Massinger_,
1779, i. 167. "We'll run at barley-break first, and you shall be in
hell" (Dekker's _The Honest Whore_). "Hee's at barli-break, and the last
couple are now in hell" (Dekker's _The Virgin Martir_). See Gifford's
_Massinger_, i. 104, edit. 1813. See also Browne's _Britannia's
Pastorals_, published in 1614, Book I., Song 3, p. 76.
Randle Holme mentions this game as prevailing in his day in Lancashire.
Harland and Wilkinson believe this game to have left its traces in
Yorkshire and Lancashire. A couple link hands and sally forth from
_home_, shouting something like
Aggery, ag, ag,
Ag's gi'en warning,
and trying to tick or touch with the free hand any of the boys running
about separately. These latter try to slip behind the couple and throw
their weight on the joined hands to separate them without being first
touched or ticked; and if they sunder the couple, each of the severed
ones has to carry one home on his back. Whoever is touched takes the
place of the toucher in the linked couple (_Legends of Lancashire_, p.
138). The modern name of this game is "Prison Bars" (_Ibid._, p. 141).
There is also a description of the game in a little tract called _Barley
Breake; or, A Warning for Wantons_, 1607. It is mentioned in Wilbraham's
_Cheshire Glossary_ as "an old Cheshire game." Barnes, in his
_Dorsetshire Glossary_, says he has seen it played with one catcher on
hands and knees in the small ring (Hell), and the others dancing round
the ring crying "Burn the wold witch, you barley breech." Holland
(_Cheshire Glossary_) also mentions it as an old Cheshire game.
See "Boggle about the Stacks," "Scots and English."
Barnes (Mr.)
Mr. Barnes is dead and gone,
And left his widder,
Three poor children in her arms;
What will you give her?
Where did you come from?
--Played about 1850 at Hurstmonceux, Sussex (Miss Chase).
This is probably a forfeit game, imperfectly remembered. See "Old
Soldier."
Base-ball
An undescribed Suffolk game.--Moor's _Suffolk Words_. See "Rounders."
Basket
[Music]
--London (A. B. Gomme).
In this game the children all follow one who is styled the "mother,"
singing:
I'll follow my mother to market,
To buy a silver basket.
The mother presently turns and catches or pretends to beat
them.--Dorsetshire (_Folk-lore Journal_, vii. 231).
We'll follow our mother to market,
To buy herself a basket;
When she comes home she'll break our bones,
We'll follow our mother to market.
--Hersham, Surrey (_Folk-lore Record_, v. 84).
A version familiar to me is the same as above, but ending with
For tumbling over cherry stones.
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
I. Bell-horses, bell-horses, what time of day?
One o'clock, two o'clock, three, and away!
Bell-horses, bell-horses, what time of day?
Two o'clock, three o'clock, four, and away!
Five o'clock, six o'clock, now time to stay!
--Stanton Lacey (Burne's _Shropshire Folk-lore_, p. 520).
II. Bellasay, bellasay, what time of day?
One o'clock, two o'clock, three, and away.
--Halliwell's _Nursery Rhymes_, p. 283.
(_b_) The children form long trains, standing one behind the other. They
march and sing the first four lines, then the fifth line, when they
stand and begin again as before.
(_c_) Miss Burne suggests a connection with the old pack-horses. Mr.
Addy (_Sheffield Glossary_) gives the first two lines as a game. He
says, "The first horse in a team conveying lead to be smelted wore
bells, and was called the bell-horse." I remember when a child the two
first lines being used to start children a race (A. B. G.). Chambers
(_Pop. Rhymes_, p. 148) gives a similar verse, used for starting a
race:--
Race horses, race horses, what time of day?
One o'clock, two o'clock, three, and away;
and these lines are also used for the same purpose in Cheshire
(Holland's _Glossary_) and Somersetshire (Elworthy's _Glossary_).
Halliwell, on the strength of the corrupted word "Bellasay," connects
the game with a proverbial saying applied to the family of Bellasis; but
there is no evidence of such a connection except the word-corruption.
The rhyme occurs in _Gammer Gurton's Garland_, 1783, the last words of
the second line being "time to away."
Bellie-mantie
The name for "Blind Man's Buff" in Upper Clydesdale. As anciently in
this game he who was the chief actor was not only hoodwinked, but
enveloped in the skin of an animal.--Jamieson.
See "Blind Man's Buff."
Belly-blind
The name for "Blind Man's Buff" in Roxburgh, Clydesdale, and other
counties of the border. It is probable that the term is the same with
"Billy Blynde," said to be the name of a familiar spirit or good genius
somewhat similar to the brownie.--Jamieson.
See "Blind Man's Buff."
Bend-leather
A boys' phrase for a slide on a pond when the ice is thin and bends.
There is a game on the ice called playing at "Bend-leather." Whilst the
boys are sliding they say "Bend-leather, bend-leather, puff, puff,
puff."--Addy's _Sheffield Glossary_.
Betsy Bungay
[Music]
Hi, Betsy Bungay, all day on Sunday;
You're the lock and I'm the key,
All day on Monday.
--Kent (J. P. Emslie).
Two children cross their hands in the fashion known as a "sedan chair."
A third child sits on their hands. The two sing the first line. One of
them sings, "You're the lock," the other sings, "and I'm the key," and
as they sang the words they unclasped their hands and dropped their
companion on the ground. Mr. J. P. Emslie writes, "My mother learned
this from her mother, who was a native of St. Laurence, in the Isle of
Thanet. The game possibly belongs to Kent."
Bicky
In Somersetshire the game of "Hide and Seek." To _bik'ee_ is for the
seekers to go and lean their heads against a wall, so as not to see
where the others go to hide.--Elworthy's _Dialect_.
See "Hide and Seek."
Biddy-base
A Lincolnshire name for "Prisoner's Base."--Halliwell's _Dictionary_;
Peacock's _Manley and Corringham Glossary_; Cole's _S. W. Lincolnshire
Glossary_.
Biggly
Name for "Blind Man's Buff."--Dickinson's _Cumberland Glossary_.
Billet
The Derbyshire name for "Tip-cat."--Halliwell's _Dictionary_.
Billy-base
A name for "Prisoner's Base."--Halliwell's _Dictionary_.
Bingo
[Music]
--Leicestershire.
[Music]
--Hexham.
[Music]
--Derbyshire.
[Music]
--Earls Heaton, Yorks.
[Music]
--Enborne.
I. The miller's mill-dog lay at the mill-door,
And his name was Little Bingo.
B with an I, I with an N, N with a G, G with an O,
And his name was Little Bingo.
The miller he bought a cask of ale,
And he called it right good Stingo.
S with a T, T with an I, I with an N, N with a G, G with
an O,
And he called it right good Stingo.
The miller he went to town one day,
And he bought a wedding Ring-o!
R with an I, I with an N, N with a G, G with an O,
And he bought a wedding Ring-o!
--Monton, Lancashire (Miss Dendy).
II. A farmer's dog lay on the floor,
And Bingo was his name O!
B, i, n, g, o, B, i, n, g, o,
And Bingo was his name O!
The farmer likes a glass of beer,
I think he calls it Stingo!
S, t, i, n, g, o, S, t, i, n, g, o!
I think he calls it Stingo!
S, t, i, n, g, O! I think he calls it Stingo!
--Market Drayton, Ellesmere, Oswestry (Burne's _Shropshire Folk-lore_,
p. 513).
III. There was a jolly farmer,
And he had a jolly son,
And his name was Bobby Bingo.
BINGO, BINGO, BINGO,
And Bingo was his name.
--Liphook, Hants; Wakefield, Yorks (Miss Fowler).
IV. There _was_ a farmer _had_ a dog,
His name was Bobby Bingo.
B-i-n-g-o, B-i-n-g-o, B-i-n-g-o,
His name was Bobby Bingo.
--Tean, Staffs.; and North Staffs. Potteries (Miss Keary).
V. The farmer's dog lay on the hearth,
And Bingo was his name oh!
B-i-n-g-o, B-i-n-g-o, B-i-n-g-o,
And Bingo was his name oh!
--Nottinghamshire (Miss Winfield).
VI. The miller's dog lay on the wall,
And Bingo was his name Oh!
B-i-n-g-o,
And Bingo was his name Oh!
--Maxey, Northants (Rev. W. D. Sweeting).
VII. The shepherd's dog lay on the hearth,
And Bingo was his name O.
B i n g o, Bi, n, g, o, Bi-n-g-o,
And Bingo was his name O.
--Eckington, Derbyshire (S. O. Addy).
VIII. Pinto went to sleep one night,
And Pinto was his name oh!
P-i-n-t-o, P-i-n-t-o,
And Pinto was his name oh.
--Enbourne, Berks (Miss Kimber).
(_b_) In the Lancashire version, one child represents the Miller. The
rest of the children stand round in a circle, with the Miller in the
centre. All dance round and sing the verses. When it comes to the
spelling part of the rhyme, the Miller points at one child, who must
call out the right letter. If the child fails to do this she becomes
Miller. In the Shropshire version, a ring is formed with one player in
the middle. They dance round and sing the verses. When it comes to the
spelling part, the girl in the middle cries B, and signals to another,
who says I, the next to her N, the third G, the fourth "O! his name was
Bobby Bingo!" Whoever makes a mistake takes the place of the girl in the
middle. In the Liphook version, at the fourth line the children stand
still and repeat a letter each in turn as quickly as they can, clapping
their hands, and at the last line they turn right round, join hands, and
begin again. In the Tean version, the one in the centre points, standing
still, to some in the ring to say the letters B.I.N.G; the letter O has
to be sung; if not, the one who says it goes in the ring, and repeats it
all again until the game is given up. In the other Staffordshire
version, when they stop, the one in the middle points to five of the
others in turn, who have to say the letters forming "Bingo," while the
one to whom O comes has to sing it on the note on which the others left
off. Any one who says the wrong letter, or fails to sing the O right,
takes the place of the middle one. The Northants version follows the
Lancashire version, but if the answers are all made correctly, the last
line is sung by the circle, and the game begins again. In the
Metheringham version the child in the centre is blindfolded. When the
song is over the girls say, "Point with your finger as we go round." The
girl in the centre points accordingly, and whichever of the others
happens to be opposite to her when she says "Stop!" is caught. If the
blindfolded girl can identify her captive they exchange places, and the
game goes on as before. The Forest of Dean and the Earls Heaton versions
are played the same as the Lancashire. In the West Cornwall version, as
seen played in 1884, a ring is formed, into the middle of which goes a
child holding a stick; the others with joined hands run round in a
circle, singing the verses. When they have finished singing they cease
running, whilst the one in the centre, pointing with his stick, asks
them in turn to spell Bingo. If they all spell it correctly they again
move round singing; but should either of them make a mistake, he or she
has to take the place of the middle man (_Folk-lore Journal_, v. 58). In
the Hexham version they sing a second verse, which is the same as the
first with the name spelt _backwards_. The Berks version is practically
the same as the Tean version. The Eckington (Derbyshire) version is
played as follows:--A number of young women form a ring. A man stands
within the ring, and they sing the words. He then makes choice of a
girl, who takes his arm. They both walk round the circle while the
others sing the same lines again. The girl who has been chosen makes
choice of a young man in the ring, who in his turn chooses another girl,
and so on till they have all paired off.
(_c_) The first verse of the Shropshire version is also sung at
Metheringham, near Lincoln (C. C. Bell), and Cowes, I. W. (Miss E.
Smith). The Staffordshire version of the words is sung in Forest of
Dean, Gloucestershire (Miss Matthews), West Cornwall (_Folk-lore
Journal_, v. 58), Earls Heaton, Yorkshire (H. Hardy), Hexham,
Northumberland (Miss Barker), Leicester (Miss Ellis). Miss Peacock
says, "A version is known in Lincolnshire." Tunes have also been sent
from Tean, North Staffs. (Miss Keary), and Epworth, Doncaster (Mr. C. C.
Bell), which are nearly identical with the Leicester tune; from Market
Drayton (Miss Burne), similar to the Derbyshire tune; from Monton,
Lancashire (Miss Dendy), which appears to be only the latter part of the
tune, and is similar to those given above. The tune given by Rimbault is
not the same as those collected above, though there is a certain
similarity.
The editor of _Northamptonshire Notes and Queries_, vol. i. p. 214,
says, "Some readers will remember that Byngo is the name of the
'Franklyn's dogge' that Ingoldsby introduces into a few lines described
as a portion of a primitive ballad, which has escaped the researches of
Ritson and Ellis, but is yet replete with beauties of no common order."
In the _Nursery Songs_ collected by Ed. Rimbault from oral tradition is
"Little Bingo." The words of this are very similar to the Lancashire
version of the game sent by Miss Dendy. There is an additional verse in
the nursery song.
Bird-apprentice
A row of boys or girls stands parallel with another row opposite. Each
of the first row chooses the name of some bird, and a member of the
other row then calls out all the names of birds he can think of. If the
middle member of the first row has chosen either of them, he calls out
"Yes," and all the guessers immediately run to take the place of the
first row, the members of which attempt to catch them. If any
succeed, they have the privilege of riding in on their captives'
backs.--Ogbourne, Wilts (H. S. May).
Birds, Beasts, and Fishes
B × × × × × × × h = Bullfinch
E × × × × × × t = Elephant
S × × × × × × × h = Swordfish