boys sit face to face astride of a form or a log of timber. If a piece
of turf can be procured so much the better. One boy lays his chestnut
upon the turf, and the other strikes at it with his chestnut; and they
go on striking alternately till one chestnut splits the other. The
chestnut which remains unhurt is then "conqueror of one." A new chestnut
is substituted for the broken one, and the game goes on. Whichever
chestnut now proves victorious becomes "conqueror of two," and so on,
the victorious chestnut adding to its score all the previous winnings.
The chestnuts are often artificially hardened by placing them up the
chimney or carrying them in a warm pocket; and a chestnut which has
become conqueror of a considerable number acquires a value in
schoolboys' eyes; and I have frequently known them to be sold, or
exchanged for other toys (Holland's _Cheshire Glossary_). The game is
more usually played by one boy striking his opponent's nut with his own,
both boys standing and holding the string in their hands. It is
considered bad play to strike the opponent's _string_. The nut only
should be touched. Three tries are usually allowed.
(_c_) For information on various forms of this game, see _Notes and
Queries_, 1878. See also Elworthy's _West Somerset Words_. The boy who
first said the rhyme has first stroke at Oswestry. The game is elsewhere
called "Cobbet" (Meole Brace) and "Cobbleticuts" (Burne's _Shropshire
Folk-lore_, p. 531). In "Conquer-nuts" "obbly" was probably "nobbly" or
"knobbly," expressing the appearance of the string of nuts; and "onkers"
was probably invented as a rhyme to "conquers" (_Upton-on-Severn Words
and Phrases_, by R. Lawson).
Contrary, Rules of
I. Here I go round the rules of contrary,
Hopping about like a little canary.
When I say "Hold fast," leave go;
When I say "Leave go," hold fast.
--Cornwall (_Folk-lore Journal_, v. 52).
II. Here we go round the rules of contrary,
When I say "Hold fast!" let go, and when I say "Let go!" hold
fast.
--London (A. B. Gomme).
(_b_) A ring is formed by each child holding one end of a handkerchief.
One child stands in the centre and acts as leader. The ring moves round
slowly. The leader says the words as above while the ring is moving
round, and then suddenly calls out whichever he chooses of the two
sayings. If he says "Hold fast!" every one must immediately let go the
corner of the handkerchief he holds. They should all fall to the ground
at once. When he says "Let go!" every one should retain their hold of
the handkerchief. Forfeits are demanded for every mistake.
This game, called "Hawld Hard," is commonly played about Christmas-time,
where a number hold a piece of a handkerchief. One then moves his hand
round the handkerchief, saying, "Here we go round by the rule of
Contrairy; when I say 'Hawld hard,' let go, and when I say 'Let go,'
hawld hard." Forfeits are paid by those not complying with the
order.--Lowsley's _Berkshire Glossary_.
Cop-halfpenny
The game of "Chuck-farthing."--Norfolk and Suffolk (Holloway's _Dict. of
Provincialisms_).
Corsicrown
A square figure is divided by four lines, which cross each other in the
crown or centre. Two of these lines connect the opposite angles, and two
the sides at the point of bisection. Two players play; each has three
men or flitchers. Now there are seven points for these men to move about
on, six on the edges of the square and one at the centre. The men
belonging to each player are not set together as at draughts, but
mingled with each other. The one who has the first move may always have
the game, which is won by getting the three men on a line.--Mactaggart's
_Gallovidian Encyclopædia_.
See "Kit Cat Cannio," "Noughts and Crosses."
Cots and Twisses
A flat stone is obtained called a Hob, upon which those who are playing
place equal shares of Cots and Twisses. Cots are brass buttons, and
Twisses bits of brass--a Twiss of solid brass being worth many Cots.
Each player provides himself with a nice flat [key] stone, and from an
agreed pitch tosses it at the Hob. If he knocks off any of the Cots and
Twisses nearer to the players than the Hob is, he claims them. The other
players try to knock the Hob away with their key-stones from any Cots
and Twisses that may not have been claimed; and if any key-stone touches
Hob after all have thrown, the owner cannot claim any Cots and
Twisses.--Earls Heaton (Herbert Hardy).
Each player selects a Cast or stone to pitch with; on another stone,
called the Hob, the Cots and Twys are placed; at some distance Scops are
set in the ground. First the players pitch from the Hob to the Scop, and
the one who gets nearest goes first. He then pitches at the Hob, and if
he knocks off the stakes he has them, provided his Cast is nearer to
them than the Hob is; in failure of this, the other player tries. In
pitching up, one Cast may rest on another, and if the boy whose stone
is underneath can lift it up to knock the other Cast away, it has to
remain at the place to which it has been struck; if he does not succeed
in doing this, the second player may lift off his Cast and place it by
the first. Whoever knocks off the stakes, they go to the boy whose Cast
is nearest to them. The Hob and Scop are usually three yards apart. The
Cot was a button off the waistcoat or trousers, the Twy one off the
coat, and, as its name implies, was equal to two Cots. Formerly, when
cash was much more rare than now it is amongst boys, these formed their
current coin. The game about 1820 seems to have been chiefly one of
tossing, and was played with buttons, then common enough. Now, metal
buttons being rare, it is played with pieces of brass or copper of any
shape. The expression, "I haven't a cot," is sometimes used to signify
that a person is without money.--Easther's _Almondbury and Huddersfield
Glossary_.
See "Banger," "Buttons."
Course o' Park
The game of "Course of the Park" has not been described, but is referred
to in the following verse:--
"Buff"'s a fine sport,
And so's "Course o' Park."
--_The Slighted Maid_, 1663, p. 50.
Crab-sowl, Crab-sow
A game played with a bung or ball struck with sticks (Brogden's
_Provincial Words, Lincolnshire_). This is played on Barnes Common, and
is apparently a form of "Hockey" (A. B. Gomme).
Crates
The game of "Nine Holes." This is the game described by John Jones,
M.D., in his book called _The Benefit of the Auncient Bathes of
Buckstones_, 1572, p. 12, as having been played by ladies at Buxton for
their amusement in wet weather. See Pegge's _Anonymiana_, 1818, p. 126,
and Addy's _Sheffield Glossary_.
Cricket
A description of this game is not given here; its history and rules and
regulations are well known, and many books have been devoted to its
study. The word "Cricket" is given in Lawson's _Upton-on-Severn Words
and Phrases_ as a low wooden stool. He continues, "The game of 'Cricket'
was probably a development of the older game of 'Stool-ball,' a
dairymaid's stool being used for the wicket." Wedgwood (_Etym. Dict._)
suggests that the proper name for the bat was "cricket-staff," A.-S.
_criec_, a staff.
See "Bittle-battle," "Stool-ball."
Crooky
An old game called "Crooky" was formerly played at Portarlington,
Queen's co., and Kilkee, co. Clare. Fifty years ago it was played with
wooden crooks and balls, but about twenty-five years ago, or a little
more, mallets were introduced at Kilkee; while subsequently the name was
changed to "Croquet." I have heard it stated that this game was
introduced by the French refugees that settled at Portarlington.--G. H.
Kinahan (_Folk-lore Journal_, ii. 265).
Cross and Pile
The game now called "Heads and Tails" (Halliwell's _Dictionary_). See
_Nomenclator_, p. 299; Addy's _Sheffield Glossary_. Strutt points out
that anciently the English coins were stamped on one side with a cross.
See also Harland's _Lancashire Legends_, p. 139.
Cross-bars
A boys' game.--Halliwell's _Dictionary_.
Cross-questions
Nares (_Glossary_) mentions this game in a quotation from Wilson's
_Inconstant Lady_, 1614. "Cross Questions and Crooked Answers" was a
popular game at juvenile parties. The players sit in a circle, and each
is asked in a whisper a question by the one on his left, and receives
also in a whisper an answer to a question asked by himself of the person
on his right. Each player must remember both the question he was asked
and the answer he received, which have at the conclusion of the round to
be stated aloud. Forfeits must be given if mistakes are made.--A. B.
Gomme.
Cross Tig
One of the players is appointed to be Tig. He calls out the name of the
one he intends to chase, and runs after him. Another player runs across
between Tig and the fugitive, and then Tig runs after this cross-player
until another player runs across between Tig and the fugitive; and so
on. Each time a player crosses between Tig and the player he is
following he leaves the original chase and follows the player who has
crossed. When he captures, or, in some places, touches one of the
players he is following, this player becomes Tig, and the game begins
again.--Ireland (Miss Keane).
This game is known in and near London as "Cross Touch."
Cry Notchil
This is an old game where boys push one of their number into a circle
they have made, and as he tries to escape push him back, crying, "No
child of mine!" (Leigh's _Cheshire Glossary_). He adds, "This may be the
origin of the husband's disclaimer of his wife when he 'notchils' her."
To "cry notchil" is for a man to advertise that he will not be
answerable for debts incurred by his wife.
Cuck-ball
A game at ball. The same as "Pize-ball." It is sometimes called
"Tut-ball."--Addy's _Sheffield Glossary_.
See "Ball."
Cuckoo
A child hides and cries "Cuckoo." The seekers respond--
Cuckoo cherry-tree,
Catch a bird and bring it me.
--Burne's _Shropshire Folk-lore_, p. 222.
Halliwell calls this a game at ball, and the rhyme runs--
Cuckoo cherry tree,
Catch a bird and bring it me;
Let the tree be high or low,
Let it hail, rain or snow.
See "Hide and Seek."
Cuddy and the Powks
Two boys join hands and feet over the back of a third, the which creeps
away with them on hands and knees to a certain distance; and if able to
do this, he, the Cuddy, must have a ride as one of the powks on some
other's back.--Mactaggart's _Gallovidian Encyclopædia_.
Cudgel
[Illustration: Change of sides]
[Illustration: A run]
Four or more boys can play this game, and sides are chosen. Two holes
are made in the ground at a distance of about eight or ten feet apart. A
ring about a foot in diameter is made round each hole. A boy stands at
each hole with a stick, which he puts into the hole to guard it. Two
other boys stand behind the holes, who act as bowlers. One of these
throws a small piece of wood shaped like a Cat, and tries to pitch it
into the hole. The boy guarding the hole tries to hit it with his stick.
If he succeeds, he and the boy at the other hole run to each other's
places. Should the boy who throws the piece of wood succeed in getting
it into the hole, the batsmen are out. Should the Cat fall into the ring
or a span beyond, one of the bowlers picks it up, and both run to a
hiding-place. They then agree as to which of them should hold the Cat.
This must be carried in such a way that it cannot be seen by the
batsmen, both boys assuming the same attitude. Both boys then resume
their previous places. They kneel down, still keeping the same
attitudes. The batsmen, keeping their sticks in the holes, then agree
which of the two holds the Cat. One batsman runs across and puts his
stick into the hole behind which the boy kneels whom they consider has
the Cat, the other then running to his place. If they are right in their
guess, the holder of the Cat throws it across the ground for the
opposite bowler to put it in the hole before the second batsman reaches
it. If they guess wrongly, the holder of the Cat puts it into the hole
as soon as the batsman runs, and they then become the batsmen for the
next game. If the batsmen leave their holes unguarded with the stick,
the catsmen can at any time put them "out," by putting the Cat in a
hole. If more than two boys on a side play, the others field as in
"Cricket."--Barnes (A. B. Gomme).
See "Cat and Dog."
Curcuddie
I. Will ye gang to the lea, Curcuddie,
And join your plack wi' me, Curcuddie?
I lookit about and I saw naebody,
And linkit awa' my lane, Curcuddie.
--Chambers' _Popular Rhymes_, p. 139.
II. Will ye gang wi' me, Curcuddie,
Gang wi' me o'er the lea?
I lookit roun', saw naebody;
Curcuddie, he left me.
--Biggar (William Ballantyne).
(_b_) This is a grotesque kind of dance, performed in a shortened
posture, sitting on one's hams, with arms akimbo, the dancers forming a
circle of independent figures. It always excites a hearty laugh among
the senior bystanders; but, ridiculous as it is, it gives occasion for
the display of some spirit and agility, as well as skill, there being
always an inclination to topple over. Each performer sings the verse
(Chambers; Mactaggart's _Gallovidian Encyclopædia_).
Mr. Ballantyne says that each one apart tried to dance by throwing out
their feet and jumping sideways.
(_c_) The first syllable of this word is, says Jamieson, undoubtedly the
verb _curr_, to sit on the houghs or hams. The second may be from Teut.
_kudde_, a flock; _kudd-en_, coire, convenire, congregari, aggregari;
_kudde wijs_, gregatim, catervatim, q. to curr together. The same game
is called _Harry Hurcheon_ in the North of Scotland, either from the
resemblance of one in this position to a _hurcheon_, or hedge-hog,
squatting under a bush; or from the Belg. _hurk-en_ to squat, to
_hurkle_.--Jamieson.
See "Cobbler's Hornpipe," "Cutch-a-Cutchoo."
Curly Locks
[Music]
I. Curly locks, curly locks,
Wilt thou be mine?
Thou shalt not wash dishes
Nor yet feed the swine;
But sit on a fine cushion
And sew a fine seam,
And feed upon strawberries,
Sugar and cream.
--Earls Heaton (Herbert Hardy).
II. Bonny lass, canny lass,
Wilta be mine?
Thou's nowder wesh dishes
Nor sarra the swine:
But sit on thy crippy, &c.
--Dickinson's _Cumberland Glossary_.
(_b_) Two children, a girl and a boy, separate from their fellows, who
are not particularly placed, the boy caressing the girl's curls and
singing the verses.
(_c_) This game is evidently a dramatic representation of wooing, and
probably the action of the game has never been quite completed in the
nursery. The verses are given as "nursery rhymes" by Halliwell, Nos.
cccclxxxiii. and ccccxciv. The tune is from Rimbault's _Nursery Rhymes_,
p. 70. The words given by him are the same as the Earls Heaton version.
Currants and Raisins
Currants and raisins a penny a pound,
Three days holiday.
This is a game played "running under a handkerchief;" "something like
'Oranges and Lemons.'"--Lincoln (Miss M. Peacock).
Cushion Dance
[Music]
--_Dancing Master_, 1686.
This music is exactly as it is printed in the book referred to.
(_b_) The following is an account of the dance as it was known in
Derbyshire amongst the farmers' sons and daughters and the domestics,
all of whom were on a pretty fair equality, very different from what
prevails in farm-houses of to-day. The "Cushion Dance" was a famous old
North-country amusement, and among the people of Northumberland it is
still commonly observed. The dance was performed with boisterous fun,
quite unlike the game as played in higher circles, where the conditions
and rules of procedure were of a more refined order.
The company were seated round the room, a fiddler occupying a raised
seat in a corner. When all were ready, two of the young men left the
room, returning presently, one carrying a large square cushion, the
other an ordinary drinking-horn, china bowl, or silver tankard,
according to the possessions of the family. The one carrying the
cushion locked the door, putting the key in his pocket. Both gentlemen
then went to the fiddler's corner, and after the cushion-bearer had put
a coin in the vessel carried by the other, the fiddler struck up a
lively tune, to which the young men began to dance round the room,
singing or reciting to the music:--
Frinkum, frankum is a fine song,
An' we will dance it all along;
All along and round about,
Till we find the pretty maid out.
After making the circuit of the room, they halted on reaching the
fiddler's corner, and the cushion-bearer, still to the music of the
fiddle, sang or recited:--
Our song it will no further go!
The Fiddler: Pray, kind sir, why say you so?
The Cushion-bearer: Because Jane Sandars won't come to.
The Fiddler: She must come to, she shall come to,
An' I'll make her whether she will or no.
The cushion-bearer and vessel-holder then proceeded with the dance,
going as before round the room, singing "Frinkum, frankum," &c., till
the cushion-bearer came to the lady of his choice, before whom he
paused, placed the cushion on the floor at her feet, and knelt upon it.
The vessel-bearer then offered the cup to the lady, who put money in it
and knelt on the cushion in front of the kneeling gentleman. The pair
kissed, arose, and the gentleman, first giving the cushion to the lady
with a bow, placed himself behind her, taking hold of some portion of
her dress. The cup-bearer fell in also, and they danced on to the
fiddler's corner, and the ceremony was again gone through as at first,
with the substitution of the name of "John" for "Jane," thus:--
The Lady: Our song it will no further go!
The Fiddler: Pray, kind miss, why say you so?
The Lady: Because John Sandars won't come to.
The Fiddler: He must come to, he shall come to,
An' I'll make him whether he will or no!
The dancing then proceeded, and the lady, on reaching her choice (a
gentleman, of necessity), placed the cushion at his feet. He put money
in the horn and knelt. They kissed and rose, he taking the cushion and
his place in front of the lady, heading the next dance round, the lady
taking him by the coat-tails, the first gentleman behind the lady, with
the horn-bearer in the rear. In this way the dance went on till all
present, alternately a lady and gentleman, had taken part in the
ceremony. The dance concluded with a romp in file round the room to the
quickening music of the fiddler, who at the close received the whole of
the money collected by the horn-bearer.
At Charminster the dance is begun by a single person (either man or
woman), who dances about the room with a cushion in his hand, and at the
end of the tune stops and sings:--
Man: This dance it will no further go.
Musician: I pray you, good sir, why say you so?
Man: Because Joan Sanderson will not come to.
Musician: She must come to, and she shall come to,
And she must come whether she will or no.
Then the following words are sung as in the first example:--
Man: Welcome, Joan Sanderson, welcome, welcome.
Both: Prinkum-prankum is a fine dance,
And shall we go dance it once again,
And once again,
And shall we go dance it once again?
Woman: This dance it will no further go.
Musician: I pray you, madam, why say you so?
Woman: Because John Sanderson will not come to.
Musician: He must come to, and he shall come to,
And he must come whether he will or no.
And so she lays down the cushion before a man, who, kneeling upon it,
salutes her, she singing--
Welcome, John Sanderson, &c.
Then, he taking up the cushion, they take hands and dance round singing
as before; and this they do till the whole company is taken into the
ring. Then the cushion is laid down before the first man, the woman
singing, "This dance," &c., as before, only instead of "come to," they
sing "go fro," and instead of "Welcome, John Sanderson," &c., they sing
"Farewell, John Sanderson, farewell," &c., and so they go out one by
one as they came in.--Charminster (_Notes and Queries_, ii. 517, 518).
This description is almost the same as a seventeenth century version.
The dance is begun by a single person (either man or woman), who, taking
a cushion in his hand, dances about the room, and at the end of the tune
he stops and sings:--
This dance it will no further go.
The Musician answers:
I pray you, good sir, why say you so?
Man: Because Joan Sanderson will not come to.
Musician: She must come to, and she shall come to,
And she must come whether she will or no.
Then he lays down the cushion before a woman, on which she kneels, and
he kisses her, singing--
Welcom, Joan Sanderson, welcom, welcom.
Then he rises, takes up the cushion, and both dance, singing--
Prinkum-prankum is a fine dance,
And shall we go dance it once again,
Once again, and once again,
And shall we go dance it once again.
Then, making a stop, the wo(man) sings as before--
This dance, &c.
Musician: I pray you, madam, &c.
Woman: Because John Sanderson, &c.
Musician: He must, &c.
And so she lays down the cushion before a man, who, kneeling upon it,
salutes her, she singing--
Welcom, John Sanderson, &c.
Then, he taking up the cushion, they take hands and dance round, singing
as before. And thus they do till the whole company are taken into the
ring. And then the cushion is laid before the first man, the woman
singing, "This dance," &c. (as before), only instead of "come to," they
sing "go fro," and instead of "Welcom, John Sanderson," &c., they sing
"Farewel, John Sanderson, farewel, farewel;" and so they go out one by
one as they came in. _Note_, that the woman is kiss'd by all the men in
the ring at her coming in and going out, and the like of the man by the
woman.--_The Dancing Master_: London, printed by J. P., and sold by
John Playford at his shop near the Temple Church, 1686, 7th edition.
Another version gives the words as follows:--
We've got a new sister in our degree,
And she's welcome into our companee, companee.
Mrs. Sargesson says she weänt come to,
We'll make her whether she will or no,
Will or no, will or no,
We'll maäke her whether she will or no.
Children form a ring with one in the middle, who lays a cushion on the
ground. They sing the first two lines, and the child in the centre
points at one, and the others dance round singing the other lines, the
centre child dragging the imaginary Mrs. Sargesson on to the cushion by
force, kissing her, and leaving her in the centre. Then Mrs. Sargesson
points at one in the ring, and the game begins again.--East Kirkby,
Lincolnshire (Miss Maughan). The tune sung is the same as the "Mulberry
Bush."
Miss Baker (_Northamptonshire Glossary_) says the Cushion Dance is still
continued, with some variations, and generally closes the evening's
amusements. One of the young men endeavours secretly to bring in a
cushion, and locks the doors, to prevent the escape of the young
maidens; then all the party unite hands and dance round three times to
the left and three times to the right, after which the company all seat
themselves, except the young man who holds the cushion. He advances to
the fiddler, and says--
This dance it will no further go.
Fiddler: Why say you so? why say you so?
Cushion-holder: Because the young women will not come to.
Fiddler: They must come to, they shall come to,
And tell them I say so.
The cushion-holder then goes to the girl he fancies most, and drops the
cushion at her feet. She kneels down with him on the cushion, and he
salutes her, and they then rise and dance round and round to the
fiddler. The girls then go through the same thing, saying, "young men,"
and then "a young man," &c., until the whole company have gone through
the same ceremony, which concludes with all dancing round three times,
as at the commencement.
The Norfolk and London versions are reduced to a simple "Kiss in the
Ring" game, with the following verse:--
Round the cushion we dance with glee,
Singing songs so merrily;
Round the cushion we dance with glee,
Singing songs so merrily;
Yet the punishment you must bear
If you touch the cushion there.
--Sporle, Norfolk (Miss Matthews).