THE
Traditional Games
Of England, Scotland, and Ireland
WITH
TUNES, SINGING-RHYMES, AND METHODS OF PLAYING
ACCORDING TO THE VARIANTS EXTANT AND
RECORDED IN DIFFERENT PARTS
OF THE KINGDOM
COLLECTED AND ANNOTATED BY
ALICE BERTHA GOMME
VOL. II.
OATS AND BEANS-WOULD YOU KNOW
TOGETHER WITH A MEMOIR ON THE STUDY
OF CHILDREN’S GAMES
LONDON
DAVID NUTT, 270-71 STRAND
1898
Printed by Ballantyne, Hanson & Co.
At the Ballantyne Press
PREFACE
The completion of the second volume of my Dictionary has been delayed from several unforeseen circumstances, the most important being the death of my most kind and learned friend the Rev. Dr. Gregor. The loss which folk-lore students as a body sustained by this lamented scholar’s death, was in my own case accentuated, not only by many years of kindly communication, but by the very special help which he generously gave me for this collection.
The second volume completes the collection of games on the lines already laid down. It has taken much more space than I originally intended, and I was compelled to add some important variants to the first volume, sent to me during the compilation of the second. I have explained in the memoir that the two volumes practically contain all that is to be collected, all, that is to say, of real importance.
The memoir seeks to show what important evidence is to be derived from separate study of the Traditional Games of England. That games of all classes are shown to contain evidence of ancient custom and belief is remarkable testimony to the anthropological methods of studying folk-lore, which I have followed. The memoir fills a considerable space, although it contains only the analytical portion of what was to have been a comprehensive study of both the analytical and comparative sides of the questions. Dr. Gregor had kindly promised to help me with the study of foreign parallels to British Games, but before his death it became apparent that this branch of the subject would almost need a separate treatise, and his death decided me to leave it untouched. I do not underrate its importance, but I am disposed to think that the survey I have given of the British evidence will not be materially shaken by the study of the comparative evidence, which will now be made the easier.
I ought perhaps to add, that the “Memoir” at the end of this volume was read as a paper at the evening meeting of the Folk Lore Society, on March 16th, 1898.
I have again to thank my many kind correspondents for their help in collecting the different versions of the games.
A. B. G.
24 Dorset Square, N.W.
LIST OF AUTHORITIES
ADDENDUM TO VOL. I.
ENGLAND. Bedfordshire— Bedford Mrs. Haddon. Berkshire— Welford Mrs. S. Batson. Buckinghamshire— Buckingham Midland Garner. Cambridgeshire Halliwell’s Nursery Rhymes. Barrington, Girton Dr. A. C. Haddon. Cambridge Mrs. Haddon. Cornwall Miss I. Barclay. Derbyshire Miss Youngman, Long Ago, vol. i. Devonshire Miss Chase. Chudleigh Knighton Henderson’s Folk-lore of the Northern Counties of England. Dorsetshire— Broadwinsor Folk-lore Journal, vol. vii. Gloucestershire Northall’s English Folk Rhymes. Hampshire— Gambledown Mrs. Pinsent. Hertfordshire— Harpenden, Stevenage Mrs. Lloyd. Huntingdonshire— St. Neots Miss Lumley. Kent Miss L. Broadwood. Lancashire— Manchester Miss Dendy. Liverpool Mrs. Harley. Leicestershire Leicestershire County Folk-lore. Lincolnshire— Brigg Miss J. Barker. Spilsby Rev. R. Cracroft. London Dr. Haddon, A. Nutt, Mrs. Gomme. Blackheath Mr. M. L. Rouse. Hoxton Rev. S. D. Headlam. Marylebone Mrs. Gomme. Middlesex Mrs. Pocklington-Coltman. Norfolk[viii] Mrs. Haddon. Hemsby Mrs. Haddon. Northumberland
Rosehearty, Tyrie Rev. Dr. Gregor. Argyllshire— Connell Ferry, near Oban Miss Harrison. Banffshire— Cullen, Macduff Rev. Dr. Gregor. Berwickshire A. M. Bell (Antiquary, vol. xxx.). Elgin and Nairn— Dyke Rev. Dr. Gregor. Strichen Forfarshire— Forfar Rev. Dr. Gregor. Kincardineshire— Banchory Rev. Dr. Gregor. Kircudbrightshire— Auchencairn Miss M. Haddon. Dr. A. C. Haddon. Crossmichael Rev. Dr. Gregor. Galloway Mr. J. G. Carter. Dalry Kirkcudbright Mr. J. Lawson. Laurieston New Galloway Rev. Dr. Gregor. Linlithgowshire— Linlithgow Mrs. Jamieson. Perthshire— Auchterarder Miss E. S. Haldane. Perth Rev. Dr. Gregor. Ross-shire[ix] Rev. Dr. Gregor. Wigtonshire— Port William School Rev. Dr. Gregor. IRELAND. Carleton’s Stories of Irish Peasantry. Cork— Cork Mr. I. J. Dennachy. Down— St. Andrews Miss H. E. Harvey. Dublin— Dublin Mrs. Coffey. Howth Miss H. E. Harvey. Kerry— Kerry I. J. Dennachy. Waterville Mrs. B. B. Green. Leitrim— Kiltubbrid Mr. L. L. Duncan. Waterford— Waterford Miss H. E. Harvey. WALES. Roberts’ Cambrian Popular Antiquities.
LIST OF GAMES
- Oats and Beans and Barley.
- Obadiah.
- Odd or Even.
- Odd-man.
- Old Dame.
- Old Roger is Dead.
- A’ the Birdies.
- All the Boys.
- American Post.
- As I was Walking.
- Auld Grannie.
- Ball.
- Bannockburn.
- Black Doggie.
- Bonnet Ridgie.
- Button.
- Canlie.
- Carry my Lady to London.
- Cat and Dog Hole.
- Catch the Salmond.
- Chicken come Clock.
- Chippings, or Cheapings.
- Chucks.
- Churning.
- Codham, or Codhams.
- Colley Ball.
- Dan’l my Man.
- Deil amo’ the Dishes.
- Dig for Silver.
- Dillsee Dollsie Dee.
- Doagan.
- Down in Yonder Meadow.
- Draw a Pail of Water.
- Drop Handkerchief.
- Dumb Crambo.
- Dump.
- Eendy, Beendy.
- Farmer’s Den.
- Fire on the Mountains.
- Fool, Fool, come to School.
- French Jackie.
- Galloping, Galloping.
- Gallant Ship.
- Galley, Galley Ship.
- Glasgow Ships.
- Granny’s Needle.
- Green Gravel.
- Green Grass.
- Green Grass (2).
- Heap the Cairn.